Kitty Simonds, executive director with the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, said she does not understand the reasoning behind banning a fishery that she said has little environmental impact in the area.

"The President can do whatever he wants to do, but we're disappointed that we can't continue on a small, healthy bottomfish fishery," Simonds said.

The Council is meeting this week in American Samoa, and was scheduled to discuss the national monument designation during today's session, she said.