By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered:
Section 1. Background.
The United States is home to one of the most expansive and bountiful ocean resources on the planet, boasting over 4 million square miles of prime fishing territory. Thanks to generations of dedication from American fishermen, our nation is recognized for offering some of the finest seafood available.
While most American fish stocks are thriving and have solid markets, the seafood sector is also one of the most heavily regulated in the country. Federal overregulation has impeded the ability of fishermen to effectively harvest our seafood, imposing restrictive catch limits, selling off our fishing grounds to foreign offshore wind companies, relying on outdated and inaccurate fisheries data, and delaying the adoption of modern technologies.
The United States should aspire to be the preeminent leader in global seafood production. However, in addition to regulatory challenges, unfair trade practices have placed our seafood markets at a significant disadvantage. Currently, nearly 90 percent of the seafood found on our shelves is imported, contributing to a seafood trade deficit that exceeds $20 billion. This decline in American seafood competitiveness, exacerbated by inequitable foreign trade practices, must be addressed.
Sec. 2. Purpose.
It is essential for the United States to tackle unfair trade practices, eliminate unsafe imports, level the playing field that has favored foreign fishing enterprises, promote ethical sourcing, reduce regulatory burdens, and safeguard the integrity of the seafood supply chain. Previously, I enacted Executive Order 13921 on May 7, 2020 (Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth). This effective order — which remains in force — bolstered the competitiveness of U.S. seafood, streamlined regulations, supported maritime jobs and coastal economies, and improved data collection. Over the past four years, however, our fishermen have faced renewed pressures from unnecessary regulations and unhelpful policies. It is crucial that we now build on our previous efforts with new, additional measures to encourage domestic fishing.
Sec. 3. Policy.
The policy of the United States is to promote the productive harvest of our seafood resources; relieve our commercial fishermen from burdensome and inefficient regulations; combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; and protect our seafood markets from the unfair trade practices of foreign nations.
Sec. 4. A New Era of Seafood Policy.
(a) The Secretary of Commerce, in collaboration with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and with insights from the U.S. fishing industry, shall promptly evaluate the possibility of suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that excessively burden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries at the fishery-specific level. Within 30 days of this order, the Secretary of Commerce shall identify the most heavily overregulated fisheries requiring immediate action and reduce their regulatory burden in partnership with Regional Fishery Management Councils, interagency partners, and through public-private partnerships as needed. This process will encompass the following actions:
(i) The Secretary of Commerce shall request that each Regional Fishery Management Council provide updates within 180 days regarding their recommendations submitted under Executive Order 13921, aiming to reduce burdens on domestic fishing and elevate production levels. These actions should focus on stabilizing markets, enhancing access, increasing economic viability, and preventing closures. The Regional Fishery Management Councils will establish a work plan and a schedule for implementation to prioritize these actions.
(ii) The Secretary of Commerce shall actively solicit public comments, including insights from fishing industry stakeholders, technology experts, marine scientists, and other relevant parties, for innovative strategies to improve fisheries management and science within the framework of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.), the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.), the Marine Mammal Protection Act (16 U.S.C. 1361 et seq.), and other applicable laws.
(iii) The Secretary of Commerce shall engage in additional public outreach to ensure that executive departments and agencies are prioritizing core fisheries management and scientific functions that directly support the needs of our nation’s seafood supply chain.
(b) Upon the completion of the processes outlined in subsection (a) of this section, the Secretary of Commerce shall consider updating the Department of Commerce’s contributions to the Unified Regulatory Agenda. The Secretary shall resume the annual submission of reports to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, the Assistant to the President for Economic Policy, the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy, and the Chairman of the Council on Environmental Quality, as detailed in Executive Order 13921.
(c) The Secretary of Commerce shall direct the National Marine Fisheries Service to integrate cost-effective and reliable technologies, as well as cooperative research programs, into fishery assessments conducted pursuant to 16 U.S.C. 1867. As soon as possible, the Secretary shall expand exempted fishing permit programs to enhance fishing opportunities nationwide. Additionally, the Secretary shall take all necessary actions to modernize data collection and analytical practices that will enable fisheries management to respond more effectively to real-time ocean conditions.
(d) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall devise and implement an America First Seafood Strategy aimed at boosting the production, marketing, sale, and export of U.S. fishery and aquaculture products, while also strengthening domestic processing capabilities. This initiative will expedite the Department of Agriculture’s efforts to inform American consumers about the health benefits of seafood and encourage increased seafood purchases in nutrition programs.
(e) Within 60 days of this order, the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative, in collaboration with members of the Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force, shall evaluate seafood competitiveness issues and jointly formulate a comprehensive seafood trade strategy. This strategy will build upon the Seafood Trade Strategy of November 3, 2020, to enhance access to foreign markets and address unfair trade practices — including IUU fishing and unwarranted non-tariff barriers — while ensuring a fair and competitive domestic market for U.S. seafood producers.
(f) The United States Trade Representative shall investigate the relevant trade practices of major seafood-producing nations, particularly concerning IUU fishing and the employment of forced labor within the seafood supply chain, and consider appropriate responses, including potential solutions via negotiations or trade enforcement authorities, such as under section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2411).
(g) The Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other relevant agencies, shall promptly evaluate the potential for revising or rescinding recent expansions of the Seafood Import Monitoring Program to unnecessary species, while further enhancing the program to effectively target high-risk shipments from nations that regularly flout international fishery regulations. The aforementioned Secretaries shall utilize cost savings to improve thorough inspections at U.S. ports, aiming to block IUU seafood from entering the market. The Secretary of Commerce shall also explore options for employing advanced technology to identify foreign fishery-related violations.
(h) Within 180 days of this order, the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the Secretary of the Interior, shall review all existing marine national monuments and make recommendations to the President regarding any that should be opened to commercial fishing. In formulating these recommendations, the Secretary of Commerce will evaluate whether the opening of these monuments to commercial fishing would align with the preservation of historic landmarks, structures, and other objects of historical or scientific significance originally identified in the proclamations establishing the marine national monuments.
Sec. 5. General Provisions.
(a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:
(i) the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or
(ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.
(b) This order shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.
(c) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
DONALD J. TRUMP
THE WHITE HOUSE,
April 17, 2025.
