Trump reopens New England protected waters to commercial fishing industry

President Donald Trump mentioned he had issued a presidential proclamation reopening 1000’s of sq. miles of protected waters within the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of New England to industrial fishing. He mentioned the transfer would restore entry to fishing and scale back what he known as burdensome restrictions on fishermen.

Trump made the announcement late Friday on Reality Social, writing that the transfer was “one other BIG WIN for Maine and all of New England.”

The proclamation would restore fishing within the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine Nationwide Monument off the coast of New England, a 3,000-square-mile protect east of Cape Cod that was created by former President Barack Obama. Trump rolled again protections within the space throughout his first time period, and President Joe Biden later restored them.

“As we speak I signed a presidential proclamation to unleash industrial fishing within the Atlantic Ocean to advance America First fishing insurance policies!” Trump wrote. “I’m restoring practically 5,000 sq. miles of fishing entry off the New England coast, which is able to revitalize our fishing trade and strengthen our thriving financial system.”

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Industrial fishing boats are moored in Menemsha Harbor on Martha’s Winery in Massachusetts. (Paolo Picciotto/REDA/Common Photographs Group by way of Getty Photographs)

Trump has lengthy been crucial of the marine monument, which Obama described on the time as a solution to defend susceptible undersea corals and ecosystems. Trump has described the restrictions as unfair punishment for industrial fishermen.

Trump mentioned Democrats have imposed extreme and pointless laws on fishermen for years.

“I overturned bans on industrial fishing throughout my first time period, however Joe Biden, or whoever used the AUTOPEN, foolishly reinstated them,” Trump wrote. “Since day one, I’ve taken historic motion to finish this disastrous coverage.”

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President Donald Trump on Friday reopened practically 5,000 sq. miles of Atlantic Ocean waters off the coast of New England to industrial fishing with a proclamation. (Stefani Reynolds/Bloomberg by way of Getty Photographs)

Earlier this 12 months, Trump additionally signed a broader order directing federal companies to cut back regulatory burdens on fishermen, in accordance with the White Home.

Industrial fishing teams welcomed the transfer, saying it might improve entry whereas permitting the trade to function sustainably.

“We need to be rewarded, not punished,” John Williams, president and proprietor of the New Bedford, Mass.-based Atlantic Crimson Crab Firm, advised The Related Press. “We’re displaying that we are able to fish sustainably and proceed harvesting at a sustainable degree into perpetuity.”

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Fishermen unload a recent catch aboard a industrial fishing vessel within the harbor of New Bedford, Massachusetts, July 22, 2024. (Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis by way of Getty Photographs)

Environmental teams criticized the proclamation and warned that reopening the world might threaten delicate marine ecosystems.

“The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine Nationwide Monument was created to offer sturdy protections for the big selection of marine life that inhabit these distinctive habitats,” Gib Brogan, fisheries marketing campaign director at environmental group Oceana, advised the outlet.

The Related Press contributed to this report.