EarthEcho International and our community of young ocean advocates recognize the critical importance of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument and stand firmly opposed to the attempted rollback of protections for this vital region. We also oppose efforts to weaken safeguards for endangered wildlife, habitats, and areas of deep cultural significance to Indigenous Pacific Islanders.

“Young people are leading the charge and courageously standing up against President Trump’s dangerous executive order, which threatens to open the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument to industrial fishing. This action would strip protections from more than 400,000 square miles of ocean, endanger vulnerable wildlife and habitats, and harm an area of deep cultural significance to Indigenous Pacific Islanders. I applaud these young leaders for speaking out in defense of healthy ocean ecosystems and sending a powerful message: we will not allow short-sighted, greedy interests to gut critical protections and jeopardize the future of our ocean.” - Philippe Cousteau, Founder, EarthEcho International

“As a young person from Maui, Hawaiʻi, I am compelled to advocate for the protection of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument. Industrial fishing in this historically, culturally, and ecologically significant zone will cause permanent degradation, an outcome that far outweighs the proposed short-term economic benefits of the executive order. We must work together and harness the power of youth voices to protect our ocean from short-sighted action in order to benefit the future of not only ourselves, but the environment and generations to come.” - Lucia Mckinnon (Hawai’i) - 2024 EarthEcho Ocean Protection Ambassador

"The Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument is not a business-venture in waiting; it is culture, it is the future, and it is a home. President Trump’s executive order to open the monument is an invitation to exploitation of a healthy ecosystem - a display of the collective lack of humanity towards deep sea wildlife that have not been given the decency of consideration, and cultures that many have not had the honor of understanding." - Hacie San Jose (Guam) - 2022-23 EarthEcho Ocean Protection Ambassador

"With much of the Earth’s land and shallow water ecosystems easily accessible to anthropogenic impact, the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument is a significantly important area for maintaining unique and threatened biodiversity and protecting cultural heritage. I was born and raised on Kauai in Hawai’i and have a degree in Environmental Science from the University of Hawai’i at Hilo. My education and work experience has led me to work on an exploratory research vessel investigating the biodiversity of the ocean floor within the Monument where I witnessed first-hand the wonders that the current protections around the Monument cover, both at the surface and sea floor level. We can not afford the negative ripple effects for current and future generations that could result from rolling back the monument protections.” - Bronwyn Kay (Hawai'i) - 2022-23 EarthEcho Ocean Protection Ambassador

Learn more from the Pacific Islands Heritage Coalition and sign this petition to show your support for the Monument.