Regional fishery management councils across the U.S. are submitting formal recommendations to the federal government in response to President Donald Trump’s April executive order on “restoring American seafood competitiveness.”
The directive calls on federal agencies to identify ways to strengthen commercial fishing and aquaculture while easing what the administration views as excessive regulatory burdens. It builds on a similar order issued during Trump’s first term, which criticized “restrictive catch limits” and other regulations as barriers to industry growth.
In a joint op-ed published in the Anchorage Daily News, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick described the initiative as ushering in “a new era of seafood policy.” The order, they wrote, aims to boost domestic seafood production, streamline regulation, combat illegal and unreported fishing, and protect U.S. markets from unfair foreign trade practices.
Under the order, Secretary Lutnick was instructed to work with regional fishery management councils and NOAA Fisheries to identify “the most heavily overregulated fisheries” and recommend actions to ease restrictions. Councils were also directed to revisit and update recommendations submitted under the 2020 executive order focused on reducing regulatory burdens and increasing domestic seafood output.
The order emphasizes that any new actions should “stabilize markets, improve access, enhance economic profitability, and prevent closures.” Each council is expected to develop an implementation plan with clear priorities and timelines.
Over the summer, councils have been holding public meetings and gathering input from industry members, advisory panels, and the public. Submissions are now being finalized and forwarded to NOAA Fisheries for review.
“Over several meetings, the Council evaluated and prioritized a wide range of concerns and issues raised by members, staff, fishermen, and advisors,” South Atlantic Fishery Management Council Chair Trish Murphey wrote in a 30 September letter. “We appreciate the opportunity to elaborate on the fishery management challenges within our region and look forward to working with NOAA Fisheries to address the topics identified in response to this executive order.”