Tuleyome Stands in Opposition to the Rollback of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument Protections

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is one of the Atlantic Ocean’s most remarkable places, home to endangered whales, ancient deep-sea corals, and species found nowhere else. These protections exist because science has shown this ecosystem is irreplaceable, and because the American public has consistently supported safeguarding our ocean heritage.

Removing these protections won’t benefit New England's fishing communities, in fact it may do the opposite. The monument’s protection has affected less than 1% of historic fishing grounds, and data on fishing landings and vessel movements show little to no economic impact on commercial fisheries; fishermen have successfully shifted effort to areas outside the monument. Rather than improving livelihoods, opening this protected area risks depleting the very fish populations and marine ecosystems that New England’s fishing communities depend on for their long-term economic survival.

Tuleyome is concerned that this action reverses years of meaningful conservation progress and undermines the legal framework that protects our national monuments. We recognize that an attack on one Monument is an attack on all Monuments. We urge the administration to reconsider, and we stand with the many communities and organizations committed to preserving this special place for future generations.