The Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument near Hawai'i is a
stunning ecological habitat and world heritage site. Home to endangered species, rare birds, and a multitude of shark species, it also boasts some of the most healthy, well-preserved coral reefs in the U.S. While reefs elsewhere are dying out and fading - taking precious marine life down with them, too - the monument remains
one of the most sizable deep ocean coral reefs on the planet.But right now, it is under attack by the Trump administration. Sign the petition to demand that individual states ban together to fight back and create their own protections for marine environments!One of the things that has helped maintain the monument's pristine health and biodiversity is
federal government protection. In 2009, former president George W. Bush established the marine monument, and in 2014, president Barack Obama developed further upon it. These regulations
banned commercial fishing in the area, ensuring that marine life could thrive.
Then, earlier this year,
Donald Trump and his administration declared war on protections for fish, wildlife, and the environment. In April 2025, Trump's National Marine Fisheries Service tried to
illegally undermine those previously-established federal regulations, but without following proper protocols. Luckily, a court in Hawai'i has pushed back and re-established the importance of both the rule of law, and ecological safeguards.
The Pacific Islands Heritage marine national monument isn't only crucial for birds, sharks, marine mammals, and the reefs - it's also vitally important to
Indigenous Pacific Islanders and, specifically, the native peoples of Hawai'i. As a founding member of the Kāpaʻa community, Solomon Pili Kaho'ohalahala, said: "The court acknowledged the importance of giving due consideration to the voices of our kūpuna in these challenging times. The Fisheries Service
cannot ignore our perspectives as the native people who belong to the islands and to the ocean that surrounds us. The law guarantees a process where we can advocate for protecting the generations of our children's children who are yet to be born."
While the court's decision is a step in the right direction, Trump's administration will undoubtedly continue to attack marine protections and push for more commercial fishing.
These moves would devastate our oceans and disrupt fragile ecosystems. We have to urge U.S. coastal states to take preventative measures now!
Sign the petition to demand that coastal U.S. states strengthen their protections for marine wildlife and ocean health!