President Donald Trump’s regulatory freeze has created turmoil and uncertainty in several lucrative American fisheries, potentially delaying the fishing season for East Coast cod and haddock fleets and leading to overfishing of Atlantic bluefin tuna. Interviews with industry groups and federal employees reveal the disruption caused by the freeze.
The $320 billion U.S. fishing industry depends on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to manage coastal fisheries. Under a 1976 law, NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service oversees 45 fisheries, setting quotas and determining fishing season timelines in collaboration with government scientists and local fishermen.
Trump’s 60-day regulatory freeze, declared on January 20, disrupted this process by delaying critical meetings and creating confusion over new rules. The freeze resulted in excessive fishing off North Carolina, depleting Atlantic bluefin tuna stocks, which may lead to lower quotas for New York and New England fishermen when the fish migrate north in the summer.
“There’s a lot of confusion right now, both internally and externally,” said Ben Martens, executive director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. “I’m getting calls from fishermen asking what’s going to happen.”
Additionally, NOAA dismissed 163 probationary employees—about 5% of its fisheries-related workforce—including administrative staff, fish biologists, and fisheries management specialists. These roles are crucial for monitoring fish stocks and regulating annual catch limits.
NOAA confirmed its compliance with the regulatory freeze but declined to comment on personnel and management issues. The White House also did not respond to requests for comment.
‘Make or Break’ for Fisheries
Timing is critical for fisheries, especially those reliant on migratory species or small-scale operations.
“It can make or break a fishery if the window of opportunity to fish is narrowed or significantly shifted,” said Noah Oppenheim, principal of Homarus Strategies, an advisory firm for commercial fishermen.
Reuters interviewed 13 NOAA employees and two industry groups, highlighting disruptions from Alaska to the Atlantic caused by regulatory delays and job cuts.
While 12 NOAA employees were reinstated on March 17 due to a court order, they were placed on administrative leave. Meanwhile, the Trump administration has directed federal agencies to prepare for additional staff reductions.
The overfishing of bluefin tuna in the mid-Atlantic in January was a direct result of NOAA’s failure to close the fishery after quotas were exceeded. Massachusetts Representative Bill Keating raised concerns in letters to NOAA, but his initial attempt to contact the agency failed because the congressional liaison had been fired. His second attempt to alert the interim administrator also went unanswered. NOAA eventually closed the fishery on February 28—after 125% of the quota had been caught.
New York bluefin fisherman John McMurray expressed concern about the consequences:
“It’s hard for me to believe we’re not going to get punished up here in New York and New England for that,” he said.
While Trump exempted fishing and hunting regulations from freezes during his first term, no such exception has been made this time. The White House argues that cutting regulations will combat inflation and boost job growth.
‘No Fishery, No Work’
For many fishermen, regulatory uncertainty threatens their livelihoods. John Ainsworth, a Rhode Island commercial fisherman, fears a lack of oversight could deplete fish stocks.
“The federal managers for the squid fishery are supposed to be slashed, and without them, when do we know when the seasons open? When will they decide how much of the quota is caught?” he asked.
Some New England fisheries are expected to open late due to delays in regulatory approvals. The Northeast’s $41 million groundfish fishery—covering cod, haddock, and flounder—may miss its May 1 opening unless NOAA or the Commerce Secretary takes emergency action, according to Martens.
Similarly, parts of New England’s $400 million scallop industry could face only a partial opening on April 1. At best, regulatory publication could be delayed until late April.
Delays in fishery openings mean reduced fishing time, fewer jobs, and lower supply for markets, said Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association.
“No fishery means no work,” she said.
Alaska’s black cod and halibut fisheries will open as scheduled on March 20, only after Senator Lisa Murkowski intervened with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. NOAA staff worked through the weekend to finalize regulations in time for the season to start.
The Pacific Coast salmon fishery is also behind schedule due to disruptions in the fishery management council’s meeting, a NOAA employee confirmed.
Rebecca Howard, a fish biologist at the Alaska Fisheries Science Center, was preparing population surveys for shellfish, pollock, cod, and groundfish when she was fired on February 27. Such data is essential for setting quotas and ensuring sustainable fishing practices.
Christopher Willi, a Block Island charter fishing guide and restaurant owner, emphasized the necessity of federal oversight.
“You need the federal government to do it,” he said. “If these quotas aren’t maintained, regulated, and monitored with stock assessments by NOAA, it’s going to become a free-for-all, and you’re going to find existing stocks depleted.”
