These are some of the last pristine ocean ecosystems. Now, they're losing protections

NPR | By Lauren Sommer,

Claire Harbage, Brent Jones, Ryan Kellman

Published August 3, 2026 at 6:53 PM EDT

The largest conservation areas in the U.S. are in the Pacific Ocean, where tiny islands are epicenters of biodiversity. The Trump administration is now opening their waters to commercial fishing, sparking a battle over some of the country's most pristine ecosystems.

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NPR Climate Reporting

Lauren Sommer

Lauren Sommer covers climate change for NPR's Climate Desk.

Claire Harbage

Brent Jones

Ryan Kellman

Ryan Kellman is an editor and visual reporter for NPR's climate desk, where he reports on wide range of topics from ice melt to adaptation.