A new Executive Order signals a major push to revitalize the American seafood sector by cutting red tape, strengthening domestic production, and confronting unfair global trade practices.
Key Highlights:
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Background & Challenge: Despite having over 4 million square miles of rich fishing grounds and healthy fish stocks, U.S. seafood is heavily regulated and losing ground globally—nearly 90% of seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, contributing to a $20B trade deficit.
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Policy Goals: The order outlines a national strategy to reduce regulatory burdens, promote ethical sourcing, combat IUU (illegal, unreported, unregulated) fishing, and restore competitiveness to the domestic market.
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Regulatory Rollback & Reform: The Department of Commerce is directed to identify and ease burdensome regulations on overregulated fisheries within 30 days. Regional Fishery Management Councils must submit updated deregulation plans within 180 days.
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Modernization & Innovation: A focus on incorporating affordable, real-time data technologies and expanding cooperative research will enhance fisheries management and increase fishing opportunities nationwide.
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America First Seafood Strategy: New efforts will promote U.S.-caught seafood through improved marketing, increased nutrition program inclusion, and enhanced processing capacity.
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Trade Enforcement: The U.S. Trade Representative is tasked with assessing foreign trade abuses—including IUU fishing and forced labor—and pursuing corrective measures to level the playing field.
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Import Oversight: The Seafood Import Monitoring Program will be refined to focus on high-risk imports. Cost savings from the program will fund more effective port inspections and technologies to detect violations.
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Access to Marine Resources: A review of marine national monuments will consider reopening select areas to commercial fishing, ensuring both conservation and economic interests are balanced.
This order builds on 2020’s EO 13921 and marks a renewed federal commitment to empowering America’s fishermen, reducing reliance on imports, and restoring leadership in the global seafood market.