September 25, 2014

On September 25, President Obama announced the addition of more than 490,000 square miles of federally protected waters around the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in the southern Pacific Ocean south and west of Hawaii, making it the largest marine reserve in the world. The Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument was established by President George W. Bush in 2009. The new additions will increase the monument to roughly six times its current size.

The region is home to coral reefs and is a valuable stopping place for migratory seabirds. The creation of the reserve will protect these ecosystems from resource extraction activities like commercial fishing and deep-sea mining. Because of this, some conservative lawmakers have criticized the move as an abuse of executive power and an unnecessary burden on economic activity.

The President’s designation is part of an ongoing effort to promote marine conservation in U.S. and international waters, and has strong support from Secretary of State John Kerry and White House adviser John Podesta.

Sources: E&E News, the Washington Post, White House Office of the Press Secretary