President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at revitalizing the U.S. commercial fishing industry by easing federal regulations and opening up new areas for fishing. The move was welcomed by fishing industry groups but drew strong criticism from environmental organizations.
Trump called the decision “an easy one,” claiming it would strengthen the U.S. fishing economy and reduce the country’s seafood trade deficit, which exceeds $20 billion. “The United States should be the world’s dominant seafood leader,” he said during the announcement.
The order marks a significant shift in federal policy, prioritizing economic interests over conservation efforts that have long sought to protect vulnerable fish populations. Environmental groups warn that loosening regulations could further strain already declining species.
“Rather than cutting red tape, this order pulls apart the very protections that safeguard our oceans and seafood supply,” said Beth Lowell, vice president of Oceana, a marine conservation group. She emphasized the importance of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the cornerstone of U.S. fishery management for nearly five decades.
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Environmentalists point to rising numbers of overfished species, which grew from 40 in 2013 to 47 in 2023, as a sign that existing protections need to be strengthened, not weakened. They also highlight depleted stocks in regions like the Northeast, where Maine shrimp and Atlantic cod have collapsed, and on the West Coast, where salmon numbers have dwindled.
Despite these concerns, many in the fishing industry see the executive order as a lifeline. Lisa Wallenda Picard, head of the National Fisheries Institute, praised the order for reducing what she called “unnecessary regulatory burdens” and supporting every part of the seafood supply chain.
The same day, Trump also rolled back protections on a vast marine sanctuary in the central Pacific Ocean — the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument — allowing commercial fishing in the area. The monument, created in 2009 by President George W. Bush, covers over 495,000 square miles.
The debate continues between those who believe easing restrictions will help revive struggling fishing communities, and those who argue that long-term sustainability must remain the priority.