President Donald Trump has signed an executive order aimed at boosting U.S. seafood competitiveness, with a potential impact on Delmarva’s Eastern Shore fishing industry. The order directs the Department of Commerce to review regulations that may be hindering U.S. commercial fishing, including the Eastern Shore’s fishing, aquaculture, and processing sectors. It also calls for the development of an “America First Seafood Strategy,” aimed at increasing domestic seafood production and supporting local fisheries.
The order also focuses on trade practices and enforcement, targeting illegal fishing practices and forced labor in foreign seafood production, which could benefit U.S. producers. Additionally, it calls for a review of marine national monuments, which could open more areas to commercial fishing. Environmental groups have raised concerns that loosening regulations may affect conservation efforts, particularly in relation to overfishing, which could impact fish stocks around the Eastern Shore.
