Trump Celebrates New Scallop Fishing Directive

President Donald Trump hailed a recent directive from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as a win against what he termed “bad” regulatory practices from previous administrations. The directive reopens the northern area of Georges Bank to commercial scallop fishing.

In a post on Truth Social, he proclaimed Thursday as “National Scallops Day,” suggesting that this move could provide millions of pounds of fresh scallops for American families and contribute to revitalizing maritime jobs along the East Coast.

“This is in addition to freeing up a massive area off the East Coast for our Great Lobster Fishermen and others—an Environmental Monument declared by Barack Obama and Sleepy Joe Biden, which I terminated!” Trump stated. “I have opened up the Oceans, Rivers, Lakes, and Seas to our Fishermen and freed them from ridiculous Environmental restrictions that allowed other countries to take advantage of U.S. Waters under Barack Obama, Biden, and the Dumocrats. It is my Great Honor to have done so because I am the Fishermen’s Friend.”

He views this decision as significant for both his administration and the Republican Party, especially with the midterm elections approaching.

“GO OUT AND VOTE REPUBLICAN IN THE MIDTERMS, BECAUSE IF THE COMMUNISTS GET IN, YOU’LL NEVER FISH AGAIN!” he warned.

Georges Bank is located between Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and Cape Sable Island and has supported commercial fisheries for centuries, thanks largely to its rich food web. NOAA’s Integrated Ecosystem Assessment program highlights the area’s high fish production and chlorophyll levels comparable to near-shore regions.

Currently, part of the bank is closed year-round for habitat research due to NOAA restrictions, and it’s uncertain if those will be lifted.

According to NOAA data, commercial landings of Atlantic sea scallops reached 21.2 million pounds valued at $332 million in 2024, with Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey leading the U.S. harvest.