Obama expands Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, making it the largest protected area on planet
- 8 years ago
WASHINGTON — President Obama announced a plan on Friday to expand the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, making it the largest protected area in the world.
The current area of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is 139,800 square miles. It will be expanded to 582,578 square miles. All commercial fishing and deep-sea mining will be prohibited in the area.
The protected area is known as the largest seabird gathering site in the world, and the home to many endangered animals, such as Hawaiian monk seals, Hawaiian green sea turtles and black coral.
The area also has rich deposits of minerals including manganese, nickel, zinc, cobalt and titanium.
However, the new plan is not without opposition. According to the Washington Post, longline fisherman argue that under the new restrictions, 60 percent of federal waters off Hawaii are closed to fishing.
The current area of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument is 139,800 square miles. It will be expanded to 582,578 square miles. All commercial fishing and deep-sea mining will be prohibited in the area.
The protected area is known as the largest seabird gathering site in the world, and the home to many endangered animals, such as Hawaiian monk seals, Hawaiian green sea turtles and black coral.
The area also has rich deposits of minerals including manganese, nickel, zinc, cobalt and titanium.
However, the new plan is not without opposition. According to the Washington Post, longline fisherman argue that under the new restrictions, 60 percent of federal waters off Hawaii are closed to fishing.