President Donald Trump is once again putting America’s workers—and our national interests—first, this time with bold executive orders aimed at reviving the U.S. commercial fishing industry. On April 17, President Trump signed two critical orders that together strike a major blow against the globalist environmental overreach that has hamstrung American fishermen for far too long. These actions put America’s economy and sovereignty ahead of phony environmental “concerns” peddled by the left.
The first move, “Unleashing American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific,” directly attacks the Obama-era regulations that locked American fishermen out of nearly half of our Pacific Exclusive Economic Zone. For too long, hardworking Americans have been forced to watch from the sidelines as foreign fleets—many operating with little oversight and even less environmental concern—scooped up the bounty of the seas while U.S. boats were regulated into oblivion. Trump’s new order tasks the Secretary of Commerce with reviewing and removing these unnecessary barriers, reopening vast swaths of ocean around Baker, Howland, Jarvis Islands, and others that had been cordoned off under the false banner of “marine protection.”
Let’s be clear: the environmental regulations in place didn’t hurt Chinese, Russian, or illegal fishing operations. They hurt American small businesses and the communities that rely on them. The Trump administration understands that genuine environmental stewardship doesn’t require surrendering our economic future to international competitors. American fishermen are among the most regulated, law-abiding, and conservation-minded in the world. Trump knows that strengthening our fishing fleet doesn’t just help our economy—it helps protect our waters from the truly dangerous practices of foreign adversaries like the Chinese Communist Party.
American Samoa’s delegate to Congress, Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, nailed it when she praised Trump’s action, highlighting that the Pacific must not fall under CCP domination. Trump’s move strengthens U.S. presence, boosts lawful American fishing, and keeps foreign aggression at bay. It’s another win for America First policies—and another nail in the coffin of the globalists’ dream of transferring America’s wealth and sovereignty overseas.
Meanwhile, Trump’s second order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” focuses on what decades of bad trade and regulatory policy have done to our seafood industry. Today, nearly 90% of the seafood consumed in America is imported—even though we control over 4 million square miles of prime fishing grounds. This imbalance has contributed to a staggering $20 billion seafood trade deficit. Why? Because Washington bureaucrats, under past administrations, shackled American fishermen with outdated regulations, arbitrary catch limits, and mindless red tape that let foreign competitors walk all over us.
President Trump’s America First Seafood Strategy is a direct response. By cutting through the regulatory swamp, boosting exports, and expanding production, Trump is giving American seafood companies the fighting chance they deserve. The Southern Shrimp Alliance applauded the move, warning that Indian shrimp exporters are poised to flood the U.S. market with tons of cheap, low-quality product laced with banned antibiotics. Meanwhile, American shrimpers—who harvest sustainable, premium-quality shrimp under the strictest environmental standards—have been left to drown under bad policy. Trump’s action changes that dynamic.
Of course, the usual suspects from the environmental left are clutching their pearls. Democrat Sen. Brian Schatz whined that Trump’s orders would “gut protections” for the ocean. Groups like Earthjustice issued the usual talking points about how protecting fishermen somehow endangers marine life. They are missing the point: Americans know better than anyone how to balance economic growth and responsible resource management. The left simply wants control—and Trump just yanked it away from them.
During his first term, President Trump made it clear he would unleash American energy. Now, in his second term, he’s making it clear he will unleash American seafood. For the forgotten men and women of the fishing industry, and for everyone who believes in American strength and self-reliance, these executive orders are a breath of fresh salt air. It’s about time we prioritize our people over globalist fantasies and liberal hysteria. President Trump is once again reminding the world that American waters—and American livelihoods—are not for sale.
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