President Donald Trump announced on Friday a formal proclamation that reinstates commercial fishing operations within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a vast protected marine area located east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Covering nearly 5,000 square miles, this monument was designated by former President Barack Obama as a conservation zone safeguarding vulnerable marine ecosystems, including unique underwater canyons and seamount habitats.
Trump had previously rescinded protections for this area in 2020, prompting President Joe Biden to restore the restrictions subsequently. The latest proclamation reflects Trump's continued efforts to relax conservation measures in favor of commercial fishing interests across U.S. waters.
In his announcement, President Trump stated that he believes carefully managed commercial fishing would not compromise the historic and scientific resources the monument is intended to protect. This proclamation aligns with an earlier executive directive from the Trump administration aimed at reducing regulatory obstacles for fishermen nationwide.
Although the monument lies southeast of Cape Cod, Trump has linked his policy shift primarily to supporting fishermen in Maine. The White House has indicated that the reopening will play a critical role in sustaining the Maine lobster industry by guaranteeing fishermen unrestricted access to U.S. coastal waters. Commercial fishing representatives in the region have expressed approval, viewing the reopening as a rightful acknowledgment rather than a penalty for their practices.
John Williams, president and proprietor of the Atlantic Red Crab Company based in New Bedford, Massachusetts, articulated industry sentiment by emphasizing ongoing commitments to sustainable fishing practices that ensure the long-term viability of the fishery. He highlighted the industry's capability to maintain sustainable harvest levels indefinitely.
Conversely, environmental advocates have strongly condemned the decision to allow commercial fishing in the monument. Gib Brogan, fisheries campaign director at the environmental organization Oceana, underscored that the monument was established to offer robust protections to diverse marine life inhabiting these distinct ocean habitats. Environmental groups intend to mount legal challenges against the recent proclamation, aiming to preserve the conservation gains secured in the region.
Opposition from environmentalists also references related policy changes made by the Trump administration regarding the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument near Hawaii, a substantially larger protected marine area. Efforts to remove fishing safeguards there led to judicial injunctions halting commercial fishing activities in 2023.
This current proclamation differs from an executive order and specifically targets the Atlantic marine area, reaffirming the administration's emphasis on promoting commercial fishing by diminishing regulatory constraints on the industry.