NH Journal: President Donald Trump continues his record-setting pace of issuing executive orders, and his latest — which he’s scheduled to sign later today — is designed “to unleash commercial fishing in the Atlantic, advancing the America First Fishing Policy.”
“President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to strengthen the U.S. economy, support coastal communities, and restore fairness to an industry disadvantaged by overregulation and unfair foreign competition,” according to a White House fact sheet obtained by NHJournal.
Trump’s lifting of restrictions on the U.S. seafood industry is part of a deregulation policy he promised for the economy as a whole — and New England fisheries in particular — during his 2024 campaign.
“I don’t know much about fishing, but I love what they do, and they’re brave people,” Trump told a Concord, N.H. crowd during a 2024 campaign stop. “I’ll fight for the fishermen like never before.”
On Friday, Trump is expected to sign an order rolling back prohibitions on commercial fishing in a 4,913 square mile area that President Barack Obama declared the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
Trump rolled back those restrictions during his first term, but President Joe Biden reinstated them. Now, Trump is opening the area up to New England fishing once again.
