President Obama announced plans to create the world's largest ocean sanctuary on Tuesday, expanding 87,000 square miles of protected ocean into 782,000 square miles of protected ocean—a nearly ninefold increase.
According to Fox News, Obama is proposing an expansion of the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, to "protect it from drilling, fishing, and other actions." Obama made his remarks via a video message at a State Department "oceans conference," which actor Leonardo DiCaprio also attended as a featured speaker.
The president's plan will likely be opposed by tuna fishing companies operating in the region and lawmakers concerned about the continued use of the president's executive power.
"For years the Obama administration has threatened to impose ocean zoning to shut down our oceans, and today the President is making good on his threat," House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Doc Hastings said in a statement. "This is yet another example of how an imperial president is intent on taking unilateral action, behind closed doors, to impose new regulations and layers of restrictive red-tape."