The administration of Donald Trump has announced plans to reduce commercial fishing regulations across the United States, including reopening parts of New England’s waters to scallop fishing that had previously been closed because of concerns over overfishing.
White House adviser Peter Navarro said the measures would expand fishing opportunities in both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, arguing that the changes would ultimately benefit American consumers through increased seafood production.
The policy forms part of a broader effort by the administration to support the US seafood industry. The United States Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration jointly announced a series of regional priorities that they said are intended to strengthen and revitalise the country's commercial fishing sector.
In a post on Truth Social, Donald Trump said he was declaring a National Scallops Day to mark the latest actions announced by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
In the post, Trump said his administration had opened more oceans, rivers, lakes, and coastal waters to commercial fishing while removing what he described as excessive environmental restrictions. He argued that previous administrations had allowed other countries to benefit at the expense of American fishermen and urged voters to support Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
However, it remains unclear how NOAA intends to implement the newly announced priorities or how long the proposed regulatory changes will take to put into effect, given their scale.
The latest measures build on an executive order signed by Trump in April 2025, which sought to increase domestic seafood production. The order directed the United States Department of Commerce to reduce regulatory barriers and proposed opening certain protected marine monuments to commercial fishing. These marine monuments are designated conservation areas managed by NOAA and partner agencies to protect important marine ecosystems.
A senior administration official said the policy is intended to strengthen the United States' commercial fishing sector by supporting domestic producers and making greater use of the country's marine resources.
According to the official, the main objective is to protect the domestic fishing industry, encourage sustainable and productive harvesting of available seafood resources, and provide greater economic opportunities for American fishermen.
Access to scallop fishing
The push to relax restrictions on scallop fishing reportedly followed a meeting in the Oval Office between Donald Trump and representatives of the scallop fishing industry. According to White House adviser Peter Navarro, the fishermen argued that existing regulations prevented them from harvesting scallops in parts of Georges Bank.
Georges Bank is a large, productive fishing area located between Cape Cod and Cape Sable Island. Portions of the bank, particularly along its northern edge off the New England coast, have been closed to scallop fishing to protect marine resources and allow depleted shellfish populations to recover from overfishing.
White House adviser Peter Navarro said any decision to reopen parts of Georges Bank to scallop fishing would be carried out in an environmentally responsible and conservation-focused manner. He added that the process would be conducted systematically and would include input from the New England Fishery Management Council.
Large sections of Georges Bank were closed to fishing in 1994 after assessments by the National Marine Fisheries Service found that cod stocks had fallen by about 40% in just four years. The agency concluded that fishing pressure had exceeded what the ecosystem could sustainably support, prompting authorities to introduce stricter protections.
Although the New England Fishery Management Council discussed reconsidering scallop fishing along the northern edge of Georges Bank, it voted in 2024 not to reopen the area. The council cited the need to protect both scallop populations and spawning grounds for Atlantic cod, ensuring the long-term health of the fishery. According to council spokesperson Alexander Dunn, the issue was not included among the body's priorities for 2026, but it could be revisited at its September meeting.
Georges Bank forms part of a chain of shallow underwater plateaus that were once among North America's richest fishing grounds before decades of overfishing pushed several fish species close to collapse.
Beyond the proposed changes for Georges Bank, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration plans to review a wide range of fisheries regulations, including catch restrictions, permit systems, accountability measures, management boundaries, and fish stock classifications along the Atlantic, Gulf, and Pacific coasts.
The US commercial fishing industry, valued at approximately $320 billion, depends heavily on NOAA's management. Through its National Marine Fisheries Service, the agency develops management plans for 45 fisheries, establishes catch quotas, and determines the opening and closing dates of fishing seasons in consultation with government scientists and representatives of the fishing industry.
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