September 15, 2016 โ WASHINGTON โ President Barack Obama said Thursday that creating the Atlantic Oceanโs first marine national monument was a needed response to dangerous climate changes, ocean dead zones and unsustainable fishing practices.
The new Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument consists of nearly 5,000 square miles of underwater canyons and mountains off the New England coast. Itโs the 27th time that Obama has created or enlarged a national monument.
Supporters of the new monument say protecting large swaths of ocean from human stresses can sustain important species and reduce the toll of climate change. Fishermen worry it will become harder for them to earn a living as a result of Obamaโs move.
โWeโve been fishing out there for 35 years. Itโs a big blow to us,โ said Jon Williams, president of the Atlantic Red Crab Company in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
White House officials said the administration listened to industryโs concerns, and noted the monument is smaller than originally proposed and contains a transition period for companies like Williamsโ.
Williams said his company will survive, but the changes designed to address some of his concerns donโt sway him about the merits of the monument.
โI think the entire New England fishery is upside down over this,โ Williams said.