Trump’s Regulatory Freeze Causes Chaos in US Fishing Industry
President Donald Trump’s 60-day freeze on new regulations has created confusion and delays in America’s $320 billion fishing industry, according to a Reuters report. The freeze has disrupted the work of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), which manages coastal fisheries and sets rules for fishing seasons, quotas, and stock assessments.
The freeze has already led to overfishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna off North Carolina, which could hurt fishermen in New York and New England when the fish migrate north this summer. It has also delayed the start of fishing seasons for East Coast cod and haddock fleets, leaving many fishermen unsure about when they can begin work.
NOAA, which relies on scientists and local fishermen to set sustainable fishing limits, has faced additional challenges due to recent job cuts. About 5% of NOAA’s fisheries staff, including biologists and management specialists, were fired last month, though some were later reinstated. These cuts have further slowed the regulatory process, leaving fishermen in the dark about key decisions.
For example, the Northeast’s 41milliongroundfishfishery,whichincludescodandhaddock,maymissitstraditionalMay1openingdate.Similarly,partsofthe41milliongroundfishfishery,whichincludescodandhaddock,maymissitstraditionalMay1openingdate.Similarly,partsofthe400 million scallop industry face delays, with new regulations potentially not ready until late April.
The freeze has also impacted Pacific coast salmon fisheries, where preparations are behind schedule due to disrupted meetings. In Alaska, the black cod and halibut fisheries narrowly avoided delays after Senator Lisa Murkowski intervened to push NOAA to complete the necessary rules.
Fishermen across the country are worried about the long-term effects of these disruptions. Without proper regulation and stock assessments, overfishing could deplete fish populations, threatening the livelihoods of thousands of commercial fishermen and the stability of the industry.
As one fisherman put it, “No fishery means no work.” The situation highlights the importance of NOAA’s role in maintaining sustainable fishing practices and the challenges faced when its work is disrupted.
Credit: Reuters for original reporting and details.