President Trump is set to reinstate commercial fishing at the National Marine Corps memorial after training opportunities were previously halted by his democratic predecessor.
This announcement pertains to the reopening of fishing access across the 4,913 square miles of the Northeast Canyon and Marine National Memorial off the coast of Massachusetts, scheduled for Friday.
Initial reports of this declaration came from NH Journal.
The National Monument was established by former President Obama to safeguard deep-sea canyons boasting a unique ecosystem, which had been significantly affected by climate change.
Within the monument, there are 54 coral species as well as feeding grounds for various marine life, including whales, dolphins, turtles, and over ten shark species.
During his first term, Trump had allowed commercial fishing in the memorial, a decision later reversed by President Biden. Now, Trump is returning to implement changes once more.
The White House emphasized that this shift “supports the critical main lobster industry by ensuring free access to US coastal waters.”
They also argued that the protections established during the Obama and Biden administrations were unnecessary for the effective management of the monuments, insisting that many fish species are highly migratory and already safeguarded by existing regulations.
However, environmental activists have criticized this decision.
“The canyons and underwater features in the northeast are special ecosystems. They function as living scientific laboratories and provide habitats for a range of marine life, including cold-water corals and sperm whales. The national monument’s status ensures these areas are permanently shielded from the harms of commercial fishing. Trump’s efforts to roll back these protections are illegal and unsustainable,” they stated.
