By Sama Marwan,
An executive order issued by President Donald Trump to boost the commercial fishing industry in the United States has drawn praise from commercial fishing groups and condemnation from environmental organizations. The latter expressed concerns that reducing regulatory rules could harm already dwindling fish populations in certain oceanic areas.
The U.S. president has allowed commercial fishing in one of the largest marine reserves in the world, opening up industrial operations for the first time in over a decade in a vast area of the Pacific Ocean that is home to coral reefs and endangered species like sea turtles and whales.
A second executive order also directs the Department of Commerce to ease regulatory restrictions that “burden the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries in America,” and calls for the Department of the Interior to review all marine monuments and recommend which ones should be opened to commercial fishing.
According to an Associated Press report, this order marks a significant shift in federal fishery policy, prioritizing the interests of the commercial fishing sector over efforts to increase fish supply and conserve marine resources.
The decision was welcomed by representatives of the fishing industry but met with sharp criticism from environmental organizations that fear the relaxation of regulations could further damage fish stocks, which have already been in decline in some ocean areas.
President Trump described his decision as “easy,” pointing out that it would benefit the sector by reducing regulations and opening up new areas for fishing that were previously protected.
He stated:
“The United States should be the global leader in seafood production,”
justifying the decision by the huge trade deficit in this sector, which exceeds $20 billion.
Environmental organizations, including Oceana, condemned the decision, emphasizing the importance of adhering to the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which has been the cornerstone of U.S. fishery management for nearly half a century.
They argued that easing regulatory rules could exacerbate the fishing crisis, especially as the number of fish stocks categorized as “overfished” has risen from 40 species in 2013 to 47 species in 2023.
Beth Lowell, the vice president of Oceana, stated:
“These decisions do not remove bureaucratic barriers; they dismantle the network that protects our oceans, our economy, and our food.”
On the other hand, representatives from the commercial fishing sector see the decision as an opportunity to revive an industry suffering from the effects of environmental changes and overfishing, particularly in the Northeast, where markets for Maine shrimp and Atlantic cod have disappeared.
Lisa Whelan-Bickard, president of the National Fisheries Institute, stated that the executive order presents a “well-thought-out strategic approach” that could be a lifeline for American fishermen, reducing regulatory burdens that hinder various stages of the production chain.
The decision coincided with another announcement by Trump to allow commercial fishing again in the National Ocean Monument in the Pacific Islands, which was established during the presidency of George W. Bush and is considered one of the cleanest tropical marine areas in the world.
The decision sparked widespread opposition from environmental advocacy organizations, which vowed to challenge it in court, warning that these areas are already facing the impacts of climate change and ocean acidification.
As part of the implementation of the decision, Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnik has been given one month to identify the fisheries most affected by the current regulations and make recommendations for easing these burdens. He is also tasked with developing a comprehensive strategy for the seafood trade and reviewing protected marine monuments to assess their potential opening to commercial fishing.
