President Surangel S. Whipps Jr. escorted Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim of Taiwan to the Rock Islands, where she kayaked and swam on her first visit to Palau. During the five-day visit, Hsaio also saw infrastructure projects funded by Taiwan and told Taiwanese media accompanying her that the People’s Republic of China was “weaponizing” tourism, according to the Taipei Times of June 10. She recommended that Taiwanese tourists visit Palau, where they can engage in snorkeling, hiking, boating and cycling, and experience the country's maritime culture.
Whipps received Hsiao after traveling to Japan, where he met with the president of the Japan International Cooperation Agency.
President Hilda C. Heine descended beneath the waters of Majuro in a National Geographic Pristine Seas submersible from onboard the MV Argo. She gained a rare firsthand perspective on the deep-sea ecosystems that are among the Marshall Islands’ ongoing areas of focus in conservation efforts, according to her office. The dive took place on the oceanside of Ajokla, Majuro, according to a June 10 release from the Office of the President of the Marshall Islands.
Heine’s descent follows the completion of the second expedition of National Geographic’s Pristine Seas to the country, conducted at the invitation of the government of the Marshall Islands through the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority. Across two expedition legs from March to June, scientists and local experts surveyed seven locations and examined seabirds, marine mammals, vegetation, coral reef ecosystems, pelagic predators, and deep-sea habitats to depths of up to 6,000 meters.
Meanwhile, Kimberlyn King-Hinds, delegate for the Northern Mariana Islands to Congress, joined President Donald J. Trump at the White House June 12 CHamoru Standard Time for the signing of a presidential proclamation addressing commercial fishing access in parts of the Pacific, including specified waters within the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument.
The opening of three marine monuments to commercial fishing also includes Hawaii’s Papahānaumokuākea, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument in American Samoa.
The Trump Administration is being sued over the opening of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to commercial fishing by Kapa’a, the Conservation Council for Hawaii and the Center for Biological Diversity, represented by Earth Justice.
King-Hinds said the proclamation needs to be accompanied by strong local engagement and careful stewardship of the waters surrounding the Northern Mariana Islands.
She said the action also reflects a broader need for federal policy in the Pacific to better account for the people, economies, and communities directly affected by decisions made in Washington.
“For the CNMI, ocean policy is local policy,” King-Hinds said. “It affects food security, small businesses, working families, cultural practices, and the future of our islands. Any implementation of this proclamation should include local fishermen, the Commonwealth government, federal scientists, environmental stakeholders, and the broader CNMI community.”
She additionally said responsible implementation could also create opportunities for local industry tied to American fishing activity, including vessel services, fuel, cold storage, fish handling, transportation, maintenance, and seafood-related small businesses.
There is no doubt that commercial fishing offers economic opportunities. But the much sought after tuna is scarce in the waters of the Mariana Islands. See Fishy Business: Tuna moves south, Guam eyes aquaculture.
The Marshall Islands has made huge strides in revenue capture with its abundance of tuna. See Marshalls-Walmart tuna supply deal doubles tonnage, but also governs its own fishing industry.
Maxx Phillips, director and senior attorney for Hawaii and the Pacific Islands at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a release the same day, “Papahānaumokuākea is a sacred place and a refuge for endangered wildlife found nowhere else on Earth. Opening all these protected waters to commercial fishing ignores science, undermines Native stewardship and risks irreparable damage to our oceans for no public benefit. We’ll fight hard against Trump’s short-sighted attempt to plunder these incredibly biodiverse waters.” mbj
