Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Saltwater Angling and Recreation

MODERNIZING MANAGEMENT AND EXPANDING PUBLIC ACCESS: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order to modernize Federal fisheries management, empower recreational industries, and eliminate unnecessary restrictions on American boaters and anglers.

• The Order reduces administrative burdens by directing the Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of Agriculture, and the Secretary of the Interior to initiate actions to suspend, revise, or rescind regulations that overly burden boaters, anglers, and outdoor businesses. Relevant agencies will also seek to transition to multi-year permitting for compliant charter operators and outdoor businesses, with a standard presumption of renewal.
• The Order modernizes fisheries science by directing the Secretary of Commerce to transition from mail-in surveys to mobile electronic catch reporting apps, improving data accuracy and preventing improper access restrictions on anglers; mandating a 5-year strategic plan to integrate recreational economic data into seasonal quota decisions; and calling for the development of a real-time depredation reporting protocol via mobile app.
• The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to launch pilot programs for depleted stocks, including Atlantic Striped Bass, and streamline applicable Trust Fund projects to directly boost fish populations.
• The Order promotes healthy habitats by directing the Secretary of the Interior to create the Federal Outer Continental Shelf Reef-in-Place Program to use decommissioned oil and gas platforms to support artificial reefs; directing the Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission to establish a Restoration Coordination Working Group to streamline habitat restoration efforts and ensure efficient use of Federal resources across agencies; and directing the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Commerce, and the Secretary of the Interior, along with the United States Trade Representative to remove barriers to sustainable shark fisheries.

ELEVATING RECREATIONAL FISHING IN NATIONAL POLICY: President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on saltwater anglers, offshore boaters, and charter operators in order to enhance domestic outdoor recreation, support American jobs, and strengthen coastal economies.

• America's outdoor recreation sector generates over $1.2 trillion annually and supports over 5 million jobs, with recreational fishing being a primary driver.
• Federal fisheries management has historically prioritized restricting access over empowering affiliated industries, burdening charter businesses and limiting public access to marine resources.
• Prohibiting or restricting recreational access is unnecessary for proper management when State-level partnerships and modernized data collection can provide accurate, real-time information for responsible oversight.
• This action sets a clear policy to elevate the importance of marine recreational fishing across Federal ocean, coastal, and public land decision-making.

DELIVERING HISTORIC ACTION FOR AMERICAN FISHERIES: President Trump is fulfilling his commitment to revitalizing the Nation's maritime economy, reversing federal overreach, and prioritizing American fishing interests.

• On his first day back in office, President Trump signed a Presidential Memorandum pausing offshore wind energy projects to preserve a robust U.S. fishing industry.
• In April 2025, February 2026, and June 2026, President Trump issued proclamations restoring fishing access in all Marine National Monuments.
• In April 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order restoring seafood competitiveness through deregulation, enhancing domestic seafood production, and establishing the America First Seafood Strategy.
• In July 2025, President Trump signed an Executive Order establishing the MABA Commission, to conserve America's lands and waters, cut red tape, and drive conservation and economic growth.
• Through the strategic use of the Magnuson-Stevens Act and executive action, NOAA has successfully deregulated fishing operations, reversed decades-old closures, and maximized harvest quotas.
  • NOAA expedited the openings of fisheries and increased catch limits based on the best available science, delivering financial returns to coastal communities.
  • NOAA continues to aggressively slash red tape and replace outdated, micromanaged restrictions with adaptive, flexible standards - maximizing profitability for the domestic fleet and keeping fisheries open.
• Through his leadership, President Trump continues to fulfill his promises to undo burdensome regulations, empower State-Federal partnerships, and restore access to America's coastal waters.
• These actions have unlocked billions of dollars in economic value and strengthened the outdoor recreation economy.