The Mariana Trench Monument Advisory Council (MTMAC) met in person on September 3rd and 4th 2025 in Saipan. The meetings goals were to share information and determine MTMAC priorities. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) subject matter experts presented general information on deep sea mineral mining, the permit process for non-commercial fishing in the monument, and the recently published Recommendations for Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness Federal Register Notice. Monument managers went through the 11 action plans contained in the monument management plan to determine which ones should be prioritized. The MTMAC decided to prioritize the following actions plans: surveillance and enforcement; coordination of management, access and permitting; exploration and research; cultural and maritime heritage; and ocean literacy, environmental education, and public outreach.
Proclamation 8335 tasked the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior to establish the MTMAC to provide advice and recommendations on the development of management plans and management of the Monument. MTMAC membership includes three officials of the CNMI Government, one from the Department of Defense, and one from the U.S. Coast Guard, who each serve a three-year term. A Guam member was nominated to the MTMAC, pending formal appointment. Visit https://www.fws.gov/national-monument/mariana-trench-marine for more information.