A thousand miles south of Hawaii, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a series of tiny islands form an atoll, called Palmyra. Palmyra Atoll is part of four protected U.S. marine monuments, forming the country’s largest environmental conservation area. It is also home to a thriving ecosystem of birds, marine life, and one of the most pristine coral reefs in the world.
No people live on Palmyra full time, and it is rare for journalists to be granted access. But the Trump administration is now trying to roll back longstanding protections by opening nearby waters to commercial fishing. NPR’s Lauren Sommer was given access to visit Palmyra Atoll. Newly back from her trip, she tells host Ayesha Rascoe about everything she saw. They talk about the wildlife, the ocean, the reefs, and what the islands and offshore waters mean to native Hawaiians, conservationists, and commercial fishers.
If you are interested in seeing photos from Lauren’s trip to Palmyra Atoll, you can find them
here.
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