By PATRICK WHITTLE and ROBERT F. BUKATY Associated Press
Commercial fishers are eager to see if President Donald Trump's command to shed federal fishing regulations will boost one of the nation's oldest industries. Trump's April 17 order cites the nation's more than $20 billion seafood trade deficit as the reason to overhaul the industry. The order calls on the federal government to reduce the regulatory burden on fishermen by later this month. Many fishing groups have long said deregulation is needed to revitalize the industry. Scientists and conservation groups say catch limits and other regulations are critical to prevent overfishing and keep fish populations healthy.
President Donald Trump's executive order to boost the U.S. commercial fishing industry drew praise from commercial fishing groups and condemnation from environmental organizations. Those critics say they fear cutting regulations will harm fish populations that have already dwindled in some areas of the oceans. Trump says his Thursday order will help the U.S. commercial fishing industry by peeling back regulations and opening up harvesting in previously protected areas, starting with a broad swath of the Pacific Ocean. The order represents a dramatic shift in federal policy regulating fishing in U.S. waters, putting the priorities of commercial fishing interests ahead of federal efforts to allow the supply of fish to make a comeback.
