Congresswoman Aumua Reiterates Support for review of Monuments

amata-and-zinke-in-ca

Congresswoman Aumua Amata had opportunity to reiterate her support of a review of past designations of national marine monuments under the Antiquities Act

She related her support to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke during a stop in California on her way back to Washington earlier this week.

The congresswoman said, “Having sent a letter to the President earlier this year, and previously spoken to the Secretary, I wanted to follow up to ensure that our position was clear, and reiterate that we are simply looking to remove the fishing restrictions on the American Samoa fleet for the migratory fish who travel through the monuments.”

Aumua said the monuments serve a good purpose, and she supports that effort, but not at the expense of access to our people who have utilized these areas for centuries before any relationship with the United States.

The congresswoman also noted that “our fishermen are the most responsible and regulated in the world…as it stands currently, these fish swim through the monuments and are then caught by nations with little to no environmental regulations…that is not helping the sustainability for the future.”

The executive order to review the monuments which was issued by President Trump last month will specifically examine the monument designations made over the past 20 years, and will seek to rectify the lack of input from local leadership that has plagued the Act for far too long.

Further actions are expected as a result of the review.

According to the congresswoman, “Our oceans are the most important biospheres on the planet and are what give us life.

“Without them, we would not be here, and it is our responsibility to care for them and ensure the future sustainability and good health of these precious resources.

“We can do so in a responsible way, that also provides those who have depended upon these resources for a millennium to continue doing so for another millennium and beyond.

“Closing off access to those who abide by the rules and depend upon them to make a living is not the answer, and I wanted the Secretary to hear that again directly.”

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