The Trump administration has officially ended protections for one of the most biodiverse places on Earth.

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument off the coast of Massachusetts – often referred to as the “Serengeti of the sea” – will now be open to large-scale commercial fishing.

Jessica Redfern, associate vice president of ocean conservation science for the New England Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, said aerial surveys of the area recently discovered an endangered blue whale.

Hammerhead sharks, dolphins, fin whale, mom and calf – it’s truly incredible," Redfern observed. "Opening the monument and removing these protections puts these species at risk."

The Trump administration said the move will “restore American seafood competitiveness” and boost coastal communities but conservation groups called it blatant disregard for ocean health.

The monument is roughly 5,000 square miles in size and was established by President Barack Obama in 2016. The deep, cold water is home to desirable fish like Atlantic mackerel, tuna and swordfish, along with high-value squid and red crab. Redfern added she fears marine mammals could become entangled in fishing gear or caught as bycatch, while nets cast to the ocean floor could damage essential deep sea coral.

"We really want to work with the fishing community to have healthy oceans and we know the fishing community wants that, too," Redfern pointed out. "We’re all aligned in that."

Industry groups like the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association said the ocean monument’s designation was “misguided” and locked fishermen out of historic fishing grounds. They said a return of fishing in the monument area will help reduce America’s reliance on foreign seafood imports, which are produced under weaker environmental and labor laws.

Source: Public News Service