WASHINGTON, Dhu-AlQa'dah 23, 1437, Aug 26, 2016, SPA -- US President Barack Obama will expand a national monument off the coast of Hawaii, creating the world's largest marine protected area, AP cited the White House as saying. Obama's proclamation will quadruple in size a monument originally created by President George W. Bush in 2006. The Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument will contain some 582,578 square miles, more than twice the size of Texas. Obama will travel to the monument next week to mark the designation and cite the need to protect public lands and waters from climate change. The designation bans commercial fishing and any new mining, as is the case within the existing monument. Recreational fishing will be allowed through a permit, as will be scientific research and the removal of fish and other resources for Native Hawaiian cultural practices. --SPA 12:00 LOCAL TIME 09:00 GMT www.spa.gov.sa/w