WASHINGTON, D.C. — The White House’s order opening up the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which is crucial habitat for numerous marine species and seabirds, to commercial fishing will hasten the decline of imperiled aquatic species. The order follows a similar move around a protected area in the Pacific Ocean.

 “The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument is a truly extraordinary and special place, teeming with whales, dolphins, sharks, seabirds, and unique deep sea species that we are still discovering. Opening the monument to commercial fishing risks further pushing endangered species closer to the brink,” said Jessie Ritter, associate vice president for water and coasts at the National Wildlife Federation. “Protecting our most unique underwater ecosystems has cascading benefits for the entire ocean food web, including for the health of our fisheries.”