The EO Yo-yo
Responding to President Trump’s Executive Order “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness”
It’s been two months, and we’re still buzzing about it. On April 22 President Trump issued his “Seafood EO,” and reactions from the fishing industry have ranged from cautious optimism to jubilation. What is clear is that the administration is taking industry input.
Many elements of the EO reflected parts of a sign-on letter led by FCC members — endorsed by more than 150 commercial fishing and seafood businesses and organizations. We are proud of this collective win. Now it’s time to bring the win home to our fishing communities.
This EO promises to streamline regulations, boost domestic seafood production, tackle unfair trade practices and incorporate more cooperative research programs into fishery assessments. These efforts hold the potential to address some significant challenges experienced by our industry and markets in recent years.
Our membership also stands firmly behind a reauthorization of the Young Fishermen’s Development Act as well as expanding USDA programs long available to land-based food producers to boost business, help producers deal with volatility, and reintroduce our fellow citizens to the benefits of American seafood.
These improvements could last generations if done right.
This roster of wins will ring hollow, however, if we allow the fishing industry’s support systems to crumble. Industry-informed efforts to address longstanding data and survey deficiencies at NOAA promise to make it easier for our community-based fishermen to operate. Stripping funding and capacity from research programs will increase statistical uncertainty and reduce fishing opportunity.
Our members have taken this message directly to Capitol Hill, as well as to their stakeholders and supporters, which span every coast of the nation.
We are asking the administration, Congress and our federal agencies to help us protect our industry’s reputation by investing in the programs that have helped us build some of the most successful fisheries on the planet, as well as expanding access to key programs that can help us grow our markets and capitalize on that reputation.
“We believe changes are necessary inside NOAA to address the challenges of complex wild ecosystems, climate variability and evolving fisheries dynamics. But change must be implemented thoughtfully and incrementally to enhance the agency’s effectiveness without undermining its foundational responsibilities, which include protection of life, property, and public resources. Our nation’s fishing industry is the backbone of hundreds of coastal communities, sustaining thousands of independent, family-owned fishing businesses across the country.”
— Michelle Stratton, Executive Director | Alaska Marine Conservation Council
“We are encouraged by the president’s commitment to shining a national spotlight on the challenges and opportunities faced by commercial fishermen. His support sends a strong message that American fishing jobs and coastal economies matter.”
— Eric Brazer, Deputy Director | Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance.
“We recognize that the true measure of success lies in the effective implementation of these ideas. It remains to be seen whether these initiatives will genuinely benefit the diverse fleet of small boats that call Maine home or if they could inadvertently undermine protections we've fought hard to establish. Concerns remain regarding continued access to productive fishing grounds like the Northern Gulf of Maine for our small-boat scallop fleet, the safeguarding of critical habitats, and robust levels of accountability to ensure a level playing field and accurate data collection.”
— Ben Martens, Executive Director | Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association
“If this administration is serious when it says ‘our Nation has the greatest seafood in the world,’ then we need President Trump to invest in the programs and people who make our fisheries successful.”
— Linda Behnken, Executive Director | Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
“We appreciate the president’s commitment to strengthening U.S. commercial fisheries and highlighting their essential role in the national economy and food security. To ensure this vision succeeds, we urge continued investment in robust fishery surveys and stock assessments, greater support for cooperative research led by industry partners, and recognition by USDA of seafood as a vital, nutritious component of our national food system. These steps are critical to sustaining coastal communities like Cape Cod and ensuring a resilient, science-based future for American fisheries.”
— Aubrey Church, Fisheries Policy Director | Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance
“This EO is a welcome effort to focus on providing a much needed local market for our domestic, small-boat fishing fleet in New England. We have been trying for years to educate the public on the fact that up to 85 percent of the seafood we eat is imported. We also feel this is an opportunity to fully comply with NOAA’s new Seafood Strategy, accentuating domestic seafood distribution and promotion. It is an opportune time for us to support our domestic seafood harvesters and educate the American public on eating with their ecosystem. This effort provides a win for everyone: Our local fishermen get more local business, and our local residents get a healthy, omega-3 rich protein, direct from their local fishermen! We also support the increased effort aimed at cracking down on IUU imports and hope to see this effort enforced and implemented.”
— Andrea Tomlinson, Executive Director | New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance
“The future of our industry depends on a unified voice from fisheries stakeholders. The Fishing Communities Coalition represents industry voices from Alaska to the Gulf Coast and New England. As a national organization, we will be advocating for thoughtful implementation that benefits independent fishermen by supporting science for sustainable fisheries, robust working waterfronts, and thriving coastal communities for generations to come.”
— Noah Oppenheim, Coordinator | Fishing Communities Coalition