New England Fishermen Ask NOAA for Deregulation and Support

Presidential Action on Fishing Industry

• 🇺🇸 President Trump signed an executive order aimed at strengthening the American fishing industry by reducing regulatory burdens.
• 🎯 This action is seen as vital for the industry, with an acknowledgment that more is needed beyond the initial steps.

Call to Action for NOAA

• ✉️ The New England Fishermen's Stewardship Association (NESA) sent a letter to NOAA, not asking for complete disruption, but for a re-evaluation of funding and priorities.
• 🎣 The core request is for NOAA to focus on American interests and better represent the commercial fishing industry.

Challenges Facing US Fishermen

• 📉 The US seafood trade deficit stands at approximately $24 billion.
• 🌎 American commercial fishermen face extensive regulations, while the US imports about 80% of its seafood from countries with minimal regulation, such as China.
• 🚢 This disparity is causing the American fishing fleet to shrink, with many areas having very few vessels remaining.

Reforming NOAA's Focus

• ⚖️ There's a perception that NOAA's funding and programs have disproportionately favored the climate change agenda over supporting the fishing industry.
• 💡 NESA advocates for a shift back to focusing on the fishing industry, encouraging cooperative research between industry stakeholders and scientists.
• 💰 The organization calls for reallocating funding to promote American seafood and help rebuild coastal infrastructure and fishing vessels.