NPR
These are some of the last pristine ocean ecosystems. Now, they're losing protections
Monday, August 3, 2026
The Trump administration opened waters around U.S. Pacific islands to commercial fishing. The affected areas include the largest conservation zones in the U.S. Pacific Ocean, which contain high biodiversity around small island ecosystems.
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/03/g-s1-136055/pacific-ocean-protections-removed