Western Pacific Council Hopes Obama Recognizes Monuments' Effects on Hawaii Swordfish, Tuna Fleets
President Obama is supposed to arrive in Hawaii today and the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council is hopeful he will acknowledge the commercial fishing industry based there and also recognize the toll marine monuments are exacting on the fleet and related businesses.
The expansions of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands and the Pacific Remote Islands monument, which includes nearby Johnston Atoll, have affected the $100 million seafood industry in Hawaii, with all requests and complaints for serious consultation or relief falling on deaf ears in the Obama administration. The value of the Hawaii longline fishery is excess of $300 million when factoring in retail markets and support industries and their employees, according to a press release.
The National Marine Fisheries Service's Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center has reported the expanded Papahanuamokueakea monument may account for a potential loss of:
-
about 2.5 million pounds per year of tuna ...
To Read Full Story Login Below.