Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific

UNLEASHING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE PACIFIC: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to restore commercial fishing access to nearly half a million square miles in the Pacific, advancing the America First Fishing Policy.

• The proclamation restores commercial fishing access to the Mau and Ho'omalu Zones of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.

PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS: President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to enhance U.S. domestic seafood production and lower seafood prices, support American jobs, and promote food and national security.

• Onerous restrictions unnecessarily prohibited commercial fishing within areas of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, removing job opportunities for American workers.
• Prohibiting commercial fishing is not necessary for the proper care and management of these Monuments, as many fish species are highly migratory, not unique to the area, and are already protected through existing laws, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
• Prohibiting commercial fishing in this area also artificially restricts domestic fish supply, which makes the United States reliant on foreign sources for our food supply and increases the cost of seafood for everyday Americans.
• The proclamation opens economic and job opportunities for U.S. fishing families, coastal communities, seafood processors, and related maritime industries, ensuring unfettered access to the coastal waters of the U.S. while maintaining rigorous environmental protections.
  • Commercial fishing supports thousands of American jobs across the harvesting, processing, transportation, shipbuilding, equipment manufacturing, distribution, sales, and service industries.
• The proclamation strengthens the domestic seafood supply chain and reduces U.S. dependence on imported seafood.

DELIVERING HISTORIC CHANGE FOR DOMESTIC FISHERIES: The proclamation builds on President Trump's commitment to revitalize the U.S. fishing industry, delivering historic economic growth and regulatory relief and prioritizing American seafood producers.

• In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order restoring seafood competitiveness through deregulation, combating unfair trade practices, enhancing domestic seafood production and exports, cooperative research, and creation of the America First Seafood Strategy.
• In April 2025, President Trump signed a proclamation to restore commercial fishing access in the Pacific Ocean, opening the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument.
• In February 2026, President Trump signed a proclamation to unleash commercial fishing access in the Atlantic Ocean, opening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
• Through the strategic use of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and executive action, NOAA has successfully deregulated fishing operations, reversed decades-old closures, and maximized harvest quotas.
  • NOAA expedited the openings of fisheries and increased catch limits based on the best available science, delivering financial returns to coastal communities.
  • NOAA continues to aggressively slash red tape and replace outdated, micromanaged restrictions with adaptive, flexible standards - maximizing profitability for the domestic fleet and keeping fisheries open.
• These actions have unlocked billions of dollars in economic value and secured vital domestic supply chains.