Fishermen Urge Trump to Support Domestic Fishing

Fishermen, charter captains, and coastal leaders are appealing to President Donald Trump for support in revitalizing the American fishing industry.

The Make America Fish Again (MAFA) movement claims that from Maine to Key West, foreign corporations are depleting U.S. natural resources from the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico, severely impacting local fishermen.

“Only the Lord can Save More Fish Than Donald Trump,” stated Vinnie Calabro, a commercial striped bass fisherman and owner of Karen Ann Charters.

They specifically want Trump to issue an executive order to halt the reduction fishing of forage fish along the Atlantic Coast and Gulf of Mexico.

Forage fish, often called bait fish, are crucial to the ocean food chain, serving as primary food sources for species like tuna, cod, striped bass, and even whales.

“This overharvesting is controlled by a Canadian company, Omega Protein, to the detriment of U.S. citizens,” remarked Phil Zalesak, president of the Southern Maryland Recreational Fishing Organization. “This action could restore a $10 million striped bass industry and create jobs for thousands along the coast.”

MAFA argues that these practices endanger 2.3 million American jobs and the $321 billion domestic fishing economy, jeopardizing the future of American fisheries.

Steve Atkinson, chair of the Virginia Saltwater Sportfishing Association, expressed concern that every East Coast state, except Virginia, has banned large-scale menhaden fishing, resulting in significant negative effects in Chesapeake Bay over the summer.

“What do you think would happen if we didn’t remove 51,000 metric tons, or 112 million pounds, of menhaden from the bay each year, benefiting the Canadians?” Atkinson questioned.

He cited 2024 data revealing a drop in the osprey reproductive rate in the Chesapeake Bay to less than 0.6, while the minimum needed for sustainability is 1.15 or higher.

Omega Protein disputes claims regarding the reproductive decline. This week, Peter Himchak, the company’s senior scientific advisor, criticized the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) for recent management recommendations in a letter.

“The group charged forward with severe management recommendations without confirming if there is enough menhaden to fulfill the predatory demand in the Bay,” Himchak stated, calling for deeper investigation.

In early July, Trump and his son, Donald Trump Jr., shared a MAFA video on social media, emphasizing the pressures that foreign fisheries are putting on American fishermen.

Calabro mentioned he had a recent conversation with Trump, suggesting the president is supportive of signing the executive order.

Fishermen and coastal leaders plan to urge the president to take actions that include:

• Ban midwater trawls targeting forage species
• Instruct the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and other agencies to manage forage fish sustainably
• Establish science-based goals to ensure ample food for predators

MAFA believes that Trump has the potential to initiate a transformative era for American fishing.