President Trump just dealt a major blow in his war against commercial fishing regulations. After signing a broader order in April aimed at reducing the regulatory burden on the industry, he has now taken direct aim at the first and only Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean.
The White House issued a proclamation on February 6 restoring commercial fishing access to all 4,913 square miles (12,725 square kilometers) of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, located about 130 miles (209 kilometers) off Cape Cod. The area became a National Monument in 2016 under the Obama administration to protect its deep-sea canyons and seamounts, home to fragile ecosystems and rich biodiversity.
If this sounds familiar, it’s because Trump lifted the Monument’s commercial fishing ban in 2020, during his first term. The Biden administration reinstated it in 2021, and now the tables have turned again. This bipartisan tug-of-war highlights how shifting political priorities undermine conservation efforts that hinge on executive action alone.
A mecca for marine wildlife
This expanse of marine habitat has been a hub of scientific research since the 1970s, according to NOAA. It comprises two distinct units: the Canyons unit, which hosts three marine canyons, and the Seamounts unit, home to four undersea mountains. This unique submerged landscape has drawn interest from oceanographers and marine biologists for decades.
At least 54 species of deep-sea corals—which dwell at least 12,795 feet (3,900 meters) below the surface—live within the Monument’s boundaries. These cold-water reefs serve as the foundation of a vibrant ecosystem that supports numerous fish and invertebrate species, providing food, spawning habitat, and shelter.
The hard walls of the canyons also host filter feeders such as corals, sponges, and invertebrates that support larger species, including squid, octopus, skates, flounders, and crabs. And the Monument’s temperature gradients, eddies, and fronts influence distribution patterns of migratory species such as tuna, billfish, and sharks.
Multiple species of toothed whales—such as the endangered sperm whale—and beaked whales flock to the submarine canyons. Sperm whale hunting was foundational to New England’s economy in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the species remains iconic in the region. Researchers have also observed fin whales and sei whales—two other endangered species—within the canyons.
Because the seamounts are geographically isolated from the mainland seafloor, they support many rare and endemic species, several of which are new to science and not found anywhere else on Earth. This includes deep-sea corals that are hundreds or thousands of years old and a diverse array of benthic marine organisms that do not dwell on the surrounding seafloor.
“These magnificent canyons and seamounts are protected because vulnerable animals like the endangered sperm whale depend on them for survival,” Kristen Monsell, oceans legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “It’s illegal and unconscionable for Trump to try to strip away safeguards just to throw commercial fishing a few more bucks.”
The threat of commercial fishing
Prior to Trump’s rollback, commercial fishing was one of several activities prohibited within the National Monument, with exceptions for red crab and American lobster fishing. The ban reflected the industry’s potential to damage habitats, destabilize ecosystems, and cause “bycatch,” when non-target species are accidentally caught or injured.
Trump’s proclamation claims that “prohibiting commercial fishing is not necessary for the proper care and management of the Monument,” arguing that many fish species are highly migratory, not unique to the area, and already protected through existing laws. Leaders across the fishing industry have praised Trump’s decision, but many environmentalists disagree.
In October, more than 230 scientists and 53 ocean conservation organizations signed a letter to NOAA stating that lifting fishing bans in marine monuments would put “sensitive ocean ecosystems and the local economies that rely on them” at risk of permanent damage, Politico reported.
Their concerns clearly did not discourage the Trump administration from moving forward with its plans. With the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument open for business once again, we can only hope that the fishing industry takes great care to mitigate its impact on this precious natural area.
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