Obama Proposes Creation Of World's Largest Ocean Sanctuary

By Eyder Peralta

Published June 17, 2014 at 9:57 AM CDT

This photo released by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service shows pink corals on the Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific. Parts of three remote and uninhabited Pacific island chains were set aside by President George W. Bush as national monuments to protect them from oil and gas extraction and commercial fishing.

President Obama unveiled a proposal on Tuesday that would create the world's largest ocean sanctuary south and west of Hawaii, The Washington Post and The Associated Press are reporting.

According to the outlets, Obama intends to expand a sanctuary created by George W. Bush. Under the proposal, the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument would go from 87,000 square miles of protected ocean to 782,000 square miles of ocean that surround seven islands and "atolls controlled by the United States," the Post reports.

The paper adds:

"Obama has faced criticism from a variety of groups — including cattle ranchers, law enforcement officers and ATV enthusiasts — over his expansion of protections for federal lands. The ocean area under consideration, by contrast, encompasses uninhabited islands in a remote region with sparse economic activity.

"Even so, the designation is expected to face objections from the U.S. tuna fleet that operates in the region. Fish caught in the area account for up to 3 percent of the annual U.S. tuna catch in the western and central Pacific, according to the Pew Charitable Trusts. When Bush created the monument in 2009, he exempted sport fishing to address industry opposition.

"[White House adviser John D.] Podesta said a public comment period over the summer will allow the Commerce and Interior departments to 'fully understand the commercial activity out there' and modify the plan if necessary."

The AP adds that the proposed designation will likely be met with criticism from Republicans, "who say Obama is exceeding his authority by going around Congress to promote his agenda on issues like the environment, immigration and gay rights."

The AP goes on: "Earlier this month Obama unveiled sweeping new pollution limits on U.S. power plants amid signs that Congress wouldn't act soon to combat the heat-trapping gases blamed for global warming."

Update at 2:47 p.m. ET. Obama Makes Announcement:

Obama unveiled his proposal at an oceans conference hosted by Secretary of State John Kerry at the State Department.

"Growing up in Hawaii, I learned early to appreciate the beauty and power of the ocean," Obama said, according to The New York Times. "And like Presidents Clinton and Bush before me, I'm going to use my authority as president to protect some of our most precious marine landscapes, just like we do for mountains and rivers and forests."