A critical legislative battle is unfolding in Washington that could reshape how federal waters are managed and restore a voice to commercial fishing communities.
Yesterday, the U.S. House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries held a hearing on a new bill introduced by Representative Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa). The legislation aims to prevent future administrations from using the Antiquities Act to unilaterally ban commercial fishing within Marine National Monuments. Instead, the bill would codify that all fishing activities in these areas must be governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act (MSA).
Why This Matters to the Seafood Industry
For over a decade, successive presidential administrations have used executive proclamations to lock up thousands of square miles of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) – including expansive closures in the Pacific Ocean. These unilateral bans bypass the transparent, public process established by the regional fishery management councils, putting U.S. seafood competitiveness and coastal economies at a severe disadvantage.
During the June 3 hearing, industry leaders and federal officials testified strongly in favor of restoring regional, science-based management:
- Protecting Local Economies: William Gibbons-Fly, Executive Director of the American Tunaboat Association, testified to the severe impact of these closures, noting that the U.S. Pacific purse seine fleet has shrunk from 34 vessels to just 15, largely due to losing access to 53% of the U.S. EEZ around the Pacific Islands Region.
- Cutting Political Red Tape: NOAA’s Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, Tim Petty, voiced support for prioritizing the MSA. He emphasized that the MSA, alongside the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act, already provides robust, adaptive, and science-based protections without the need for redundant, heavy-handed executive bans.
- Defending Regional Oversight: Supporters emphasized that relying on regional fishery management councils ensures regulations are developed using local biological expertise and direct stakeholder input – rather than top-down political mandates.
The Current Landscape
While the proposed bill seeks a permanent legislative fix, the regulatory landscape remains volatile. Former President Trump recently issued a Presidential Proclamation to lift commercial fishing bans in certain monument waters, advocating for an “America First Fishing Policy.” However, bi-partisan friction remains high, as a group of nine Democratic senators recently petitioned the administration to reverse that order and reinstate the closures.