Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan criticized the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (Wespac) for organizing a campaign to abolish marine monuments and for fighting every marine preservation effort. Sablan argued Wespac should not have veto power over fishing rules in monuments designed to preserve all marine species. He demanded an investigation of Wespac for improper lobbying. Wespac presented arguments that the Marianas Trench Marine National Monument's fishing restrictions negatively impact local fisheries and economies. Governors of Pacific islands and legislatures expressed support for reviewing and removing fishing provisions from monuments.

1. WESTERN PACIFIC REGIONAL FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL
THE NORTHERN MARIANAS TRENCH NATIONAL MARINE MONUMENT
THE FLIP SIDE
U.S. Representative Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan Northern Marianas Islands,
criticized very harshly the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council
(Wespac) during a hearing before the Water, Power and Oceans Subcommittee.
“Mr. Oliver1
, I have long been concerned with inappropriate activities of
Wespac”.
“More recently, Wespac has been organizing and leading a national
campaign to abolish marine monuments”.
“We should not allow fishery management councils, including the
Western Pacific Fishery Management Council, to have veto power over
fishing rules in monuments and sanctuaries designed to preserve all
marine species and habitats, not just fish”.
“Wespac in particular has fought against every marine preservation effort
in memory including regulation to stop the gruesome practice of shark-
finning and regulations designed to protect threatened and endangered
species, green turtles, marine mammals and seabirds”.
Source: Congressman Blasts Fishery Council For ‘Improper Lobbying’. The Northern
Marianas lawmaker demands an investigation of the Hawaii-based Western Pacific
Regional Fishery Management Council. By Kirstin Downey. Honolulu Civil Beat.
October 4, 2017 http://www.civilbeat.org/2017/10/congressman-blasts-fishery-council-for-improper-lobbying/
THE FACTS
1 Chris Oliver, Assistant Administrator of Fisheries for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA).

2. Wespac – Marine National Monuments in the US Pacific Islands (Extract)
Marianas Trench Marine National Monument
Presidential Proclamation 8335 – January 6, 2009
60,938,240 acres – 95,216 square miles
6.6 miles deep2
Marianas Trench MNM - Governors of Guam and CNMI did not support the
designation. Congresswoman Bordallo did not support designation at time. Current
Governors support removal of monument fishing provisions. Significant local
opposition during the designation period.
Marianas Trench MNM - The 50 nm monument area around the Islands Unit is
not necessary for coral reef conservation and not consistent with the smallest area
compatible under the Antiquities Act. The Volcanic Unit does discretely protect
certain seamounts and vents and could be used as a model for other monuments with
respect to the smallest area compatible.
Marianas Trench MNM - The designation of the Trench Unit which covers the
bottom substrate of the Marianas Trench within the EEZ does have scientific interest,
as does the discrete areas designated in the Volcanic Unit. The 50 nm area around the
Islands Unit does not contain the same level of scientific interest and does not match
the area needed for adequate protection of the coral reef ecosystem.
Marianas Trench MMM - The Marianas Trench MNM affects a domestic
bottomfish fishery that supplied local and export markets. The 50 nm closure around
the Islands Unit prohibits commercial fishing, which in the past occurred sustainably
by bottomfishing vessels operating out of Saipan. There is substantial tourism-based
economic development occurring in Saipan currently and whereby local fishermen
could benefit from delivering sustainably-caught bottomfish to local markets.
Fishery regulations implemented under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery
Conservation and Management Act (MSA) are still in the US Code of Federal
Regulations and can again be used to sustainably manage the fisheries and ensure
conservation and management of protected species, habitat and ecosystems.
The MSA fishery regulations are science-based and were developed through a
transparent process of public participation per the MSA and the National
Environmental Policy Act. There is no requirement that monument designations be
based on the best available science as opposed to regulations developed under the
MSA.
2 The Marianas Trench is the deepest known point on earth. Source: U.S. Department of Interior.

3. Unnecessary and burdensome constraints to the fishing industry cause US
fishermen to want to leave this livelihood and hinder the new generation from joining
it. There is no reason that sustainable fisheries cannot coexist with management
measures that respond to climate change threats.
There is a new international United Nations agreement being
developed to protect high seas biodiversity will include high seas marine
protected areas, which if implemented and combined with monuments,
could leave no room for US fishing vessels to operate efficiently in the
Western and Central Pacific.
US commercial fishing vessels targeting tuna and other highly mobile
species need access US waters to operate efficiently and free from foreign
competition when the fish are present in the US EEZ.
[Emphasis Supplied]
Source: Wespac. Overview of Marine National Monuments in the US Pacific Islands.
http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Attachment-2_Overview-of-Marine-
National-Monuments-in-the-US-Pacific-Islands.pdf
_____________________
Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996 and Review of
National Marine Sanctuaries and marine national Monuments Designated or
Expanded since April 28, 2007 – Comments from
Governor Lolo M. Moliga, American Samoa, June 7, 2017
http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Gov-Moliga-to-Ryan-Zinke.pdf
Governor Eddie Baza Calvo, Guam, July 5, 2017
http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Gov-letter-to-DOI.pdf
Governor Ralph DLG. Torres., Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
(CNMI), July 11, 2017 http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Gov-
Torres-to-Ryan-Zinke.pdf
CNMI Senate Resolution 20-05, July 11, 2017 http://www.wpcouncil.org/wp-
content/uploads/2017/07/Senate-Resolution.pdf
Source: Wespac. Review of Certain National Monuments Established Since 1996 and
Review of National Marine Sanctuaries and marine national Monuments Designated
or Expanded since April 28, 2007. http://www.wpcouncil.org/2017/07/12/review-of-certain-
national-monuments-established-since-1996-and-review-of-national-marine-sanctuaries-and-
marine-national-monuments-designated-or-expanded-since-april-28-2007-comments/