President Trump issues Executive Order - Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, names new NOAA Fisheries Head

Executive Order Summary: Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

Yesterday April 17, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed an executive order titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” aimed at revitalizing the U.S. seafood industry by reducing federal overreach, rolling back harmful regulations, and protecting American fishing businesses from unfair foreign competition. The United States seafood industry relies on 80% imports largely due to burdensome domestic regulations, high operational costs, and foreign competitors flooding the market with cheaper, often less-regulated seafood.

Key Provisions of the Executive Order

• Regulatory Reform: The order directs the Secretary of Commerce to identify and eliminate unnecessary regulations that burden the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood processing sectors. It calls for collaboration with Regional Fishery Management Councils to stabilize markets, increase profitability, and prevent unwarranted closures.

• Trade and Market Protection: With the U.S. seafood trade deficit exceeding $20 billion, the order prioritizes combatting illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing and protecting domestic harvesters from foreign dumping and unfair pricing.

• Data and Technology: The order mandates the modernization of fisheries management through more accurate and transparent data collection, better stock assessments, and updated technologies that support sustainable fishing without over-regulating it.

NOAA Fisheries & the Pattern of Federal Overreach

This executive action comes after years of mounting frustration within the fishing community over NOAA Fisheries’ controversial decisions—particularly in the South Atlantic and Gulf regions:

• Red Snapper Closures: In 2024, NOAA imposed drastic interim measures on red snapper harvests, leaving recreational anglers with a single-day season while reducing commercial quotas, despite widespread reports of red snapper abundance on the water.

• Proposed Seasonal Ocean Closures: Amendment 59 proposes a sweeping three-month closure (Dec–Feb) for bottom fishing across large swaths of Florida’s Atlantic waters, affecting 55 species and threatening the viability of countless local charters, bait shops, and fish houses.

• Questionable Stock Assessments: Many industry professionals and independent biologists question the accuracy of the models used to justify these closures. Much of the data is outdated or collected with limited input from actual stakeholders, leading to a disconnect between science and reality on the water. [For example: In recent years, Gulf of Mexico state-led surveys revealed that federal estimates overestimated recreational fishing efforts by as much as 30-40%, prompting states like Alabama and Louisiana to develop and rely on their own data collection programs for more accurate assessments.]

Turning Point for American Fisheries?

President Trump’s executive order has the potential to be far-reaching—not only boosting America’s seafood competitiveness on the global stage but also providing long-overdue relief to smaller and often-overlooked sectors of the industry. For-hire and headboat operators, in particular, have been disproportionately affected by restrictive and sometimes discriminatory bag limits and blanket seasonal closures that fail to account for the nuances of their operations. These sectors have endured over 15 years of economic decline—largely due to management practices that penalize access rather than promote sustainability. By scaling back overregulation and encouraging smarter, more inclusive fisheries governance, this executive order could mark a new era for working watermen across the country who have fought to stay afloat in a system stacked against them.

New NOAA Fisheries Head Named

In a significant development for the U.S. fishing industry, Eugenio Piñeiro Soler has been appointed as the new Assistant Administrator for NOAA Fisheries. With over 30 years of experience as a commercial fisherman, fisheries captain, and entrepreneur in Puerto Rico and the Caribbean, Piñeiro Soler brings a wealth of practical knowledge to the role. His previous leadership positions, including Chair of the Caribbean Fishery Management Council and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere during the first Trump administration, underscore his commitment to balanced and effective fisheries management.

The appointment of Piñeiro Soler, alongside President Trump’s recent executive order aimed at restoring American seafood competitive-ness, has been met with cautious optimism by industry stakeholders. The entire fishing community has collectively taken a deep breath, hopeful that these actions signal a shift towards more equitable and sustainable management practices. For sectors like the for-hire and headboat industries, which have faced challenges due to restrictive regulations and closures, these developments offer a potential path toward revitalization and long-term viability.