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April 18, 2025 \u2013<\/b> President Donald Trump yesterday announced an effort to create a \u201cnew era\u201d of seafood policy, with an executive order that aims to \u201creduce the regulatory burden\u201d on U.S. fisheries. Ocean sustainability groups have expressed concerns that the order could damage ocean ecosystems and deplete fisheries.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe United States should be the world\u2019s dominant seafood leader,\u201d Trump wrote in the order<\/a>, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. \u201cBut in addition to overregulation, unfair trade practices have put our seafood markets at a competitive disadvantage.\u201d<\/p>\n The order tasks \u00a0Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to work with the Department of Health and Human Services and the fishing industry to \u201cimmediately consider suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that overly burden America\u2019s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries at the fishery-specific level.\u201d It also orders an examination of trade policies<\/a> to benefit U.S. fishing.<\/p>\n U.S. fisheries experienced severe overfishing in the 1980s and 1990s, with essential fish stocks either depleting or collapsing<\/a>. In the decades since, the stocks have recovered, in large part due to stricter fishing regulations and close monitoring. The government agency tasked with monitoring<\/a> fish stocks, through scientific survey, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, or NOAA, underwent major personnel cuts<\/a> after Trump\u2019s inauguration.<\/p>\n The Department of Commerce fired<\/a> more than 600 probationary employees in February. And while lower court judges ordered many of them reinstated in March, the Supreme Court has since paused some of the reinstatements. Workers told<\/a> NBC News this week the agency is suffering under \u201cintentional chaos,\u201d due to the cuts. Firings have since resumed<\/a>, Reuters reported on April 10.<\/p>\n Advocacy groups say Trump\u2019s newest order endangers U.S. fisheries anew, at a time when they are facing increasing pressure<\/a> from climate change.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n