On April 17, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing agencies including the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), NOAA, and the U.S. Trade Representative to implement a broad set of actions aimed at strengthening the domestic seafood sector. The EO mandates tasks with deadlines ranging from 30 to 180 days, from identifying overregulated fisheries to developing a national seafood trade strategy.
Industry leaders welcomed the move. National Fisheries Institute President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard praised the EO for supporting all levels of the supply chain and easing regulatory burdens. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) called it a “shot in the arm” for fishermen and seafood producers.
However, concerns remain about NOAA’s ability to meet the EO’s ambitious goals amid staffing shortages and ongoing budget cuts driven by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Experts, including Stimson Center’s Sally Yozell, cautioned that expanding aquaculture, boosting fishing, and reshoring processing will require expertise and resources that may currently be lacking within the agency.
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