Trump Reopens Northeast Canyons To Commercial Fishing
Trump issued a proclamation reopening the 4,913-square-mile Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.
Overview
President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Friday reopening the 4,913-square-mile Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing, reversing President Joe Biden’s 2021 restoration of protections, according to the proclamation.
The action matters because the monument, created by President Barack Obama in 2016 to protect undersea canyons and seamounts southeast of Cape Cod, contains habitats for vulnerable corals and marine life, federal records show.
Commercial fishing groups including the Atlantic Red Crab Company praised the proclamation, with John Williams, president and owner, saying, "We deserve to be rewarded, not penalized," in a statement supporting restored access.
Environmental groups such as Oceana said they will challenge the proclamation in court, and Gib Brogan, fisheries campaign director, called the area vital habitat and warned of legal action.
Federal fisheries regulators face near-term decisions on permitting and management for the reopened 4,913-square-mile area as litigation and possible injunctions loom, officials said.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the reporting neutrally: they use descriptive language, attribute assertions to actors, and give space to Trump, commercial fishing advocates, and environmental groups. Coverage includes factual context (Obama designation, Biden restoration, legal challenges), avoids loaded wording, and flags a correction—suggesting emphasis on reporting facts rather than editorial framing.
Sources (6)
FAQ
It is a 4,913-square-mile marine protected area created by President Obama in 2016, located southeast of Cape Cod, featuring undersea canyons, seamounts, vulnerable corals, and diverse marine life including endangered species.
Obama created it with protections in 2016; Trump opened it to fishing in 2020; Biden restored protections in 2021, prohibiting most commercial fishing except limited red crab and lobster until 2023.
Groups like the Atlantic Red Crab Company argue they deserve access and should not be penalized, as prior fishing activity in the area was limited.
Environmental groups warn it threatens vital habitats for corals, endangered species, and marine life due to risks like entanglement, bycatch, and damage to deep-sea corals from fishing gear.
Environmental groups like Oceana plan to challenge it in court, potentially leading to litigation, injunctions, and decisions by federal fisheries regulators on permitting and management.
History
- 3 sources