Robert Besser
22 Apr 2025

WASHINGTON, D.C.: President Donald Trump has signed an executive order directing the U.S. Commerce Department to ease regulations on the domestic seafood industry and expand access to protected waters for commercial fishing.

The White House said this week the order is designed to bolster seafood production and reduce imports by lifting what the administration sees as excessive rules on American fishermen.

"The Order strengthens the U.S. fishing industry by reducing regulatory burdens, combating unfair foreign trade practices, and enhancing domestic seafood production and exports," the statement said.

The White House added that the United States controls more than four million square miles of fishing territory but still imports nearly 90 percent of its seafood, resulting in a trade deficit of over US$20 billion.

As part of the initiative, Trump issued a separate proclamation to open the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument — a protected 400,000-acre zone south and west of Hawaii — to commercial fishing. The area had previously been off-limits.

The move is the latest in a series of efforts by Trump to roll back environmental and regulatory measures in the name of economic growth, particularly in sectors such as energy, agriculture, and now, fisheries.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) manages the U.S. fishing industry, valued at $320 billion. Under a 1976 law, NOAA's National Marine Fisheries Service is tasked with managing 45 fisheries across the country. The agency sets quotas and fishing seasons in coordination with scientists and local industry representatives.