Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Restores American Seafood Competitiveness

4/17/2025

Fact Sheets

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Action Summary

Purpose: Restore American seafood competitiveness by strengthening the U.S. fishing industry, reducing regulatory burdens, and combating unfair foreign trade practices.
Regulatory Revisions: Directs the Secretary of Commerce to suspend, revise, or rescind regulations that burden commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing.
NMFS Directives:
- Incorporate advanced, cost-effective technologies and cooperative research into fishery assessments.
- Expand exempted fishing permit programs to increase fishing opportunities nationwide.
- Modernize data collection and analytical practices to respond to real-time ocean conditions.
America First Seafood Strategy: Establish a framework to boost U.S. seafood production, sales, and exports for long-term industry growth and global competitiveness.
Seafood Trade Strategy: Develop a strategy to address unfair competition, low environmental and labor standards, and illegally sourced seafood, while expanding access to foreign markets.
Import Monitoring: Improve the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to better detect high-risk shipments from countries that violate international laws.
Marine Monument Review: Order a review of all existing marine national monuments to assess possibilities for opening them to commercial fishing.
Industry Challenges Addressed: Recognizes overregulation, IUU fishing, forced labor, and a significant trade deficit (over $20 billion) as key issues undermining U.S. market leadership.
Historical Context: Builds on previous executive actions from 2020 and measures like halting offshore wind projects and implementing tariffs to protect the fishing industry.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order aims to reduce regulatory burdens on the U.S. fishing industry, which could lead to increased domestic seafood production and exports. However, this deregulation may raise environmental concerns, potentially affecting sustainability and conservation efforts.
By promoting an America First Seafood Strategy, the order could lead to trade tensions with countries that are major seafood exporters to the U.S., potentially impacting international relations and trade agreements.
The focus on combating unfair foreign trade practices and illegal seafood imports may require increased enforcement and monitoring, which could strain resources and require additional funding.
Vanderbilt University may need to consider how these changes in the fishing industry could impact its research programs, particularly those related to marine biology, environmental science, and international trade policy.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Environmental Science Department may see increased demand for research on the environmental impacts of deregulation in the fishing industry, providing opportunities for collaboration with federal agencies and industry stakeholders.
The Law School could play a role in analyzing the legal implications of the Executive Order, particularly in terms of international trade law and environmental regulations.
Vanderbilt’s Business School might explore the economic impacts of the order on the seafood industry, offering insights into market dynamics and trade strategies.
The Office of International Affairs may need to monitor potential changes in trade relations and advise on international collaborations and partnerships.

Financial Impact

The reduction of regulatory burdens could lead to increased profitability for the U.S. fishing industry, potentially opening up new funding opportunities for research and development in related fields.
Vanderbilt University might experience changes in its funding landscape, particularly if federal grants prioritize research on seafood competitiveness and trade policy.
There may be increased opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure funding for research on sustainable fishing practices and the environmental impacts of deregulation.
The focus on expanding access to foreign markets for American seafood products could lead to new partnerships and collaborations with international institutions and organizations.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential impacts on research programs.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Marine Biology and Environmental Science Departments should explore research opportunities related to the modernization of data collection and analytical practices in fisheries management. By contributing to cooperative research programs, Vanderbilt can enhance its role in advancing sustainable fishing practices and technologies.
The Office of Federal Relations should monitor developments in the America First Seafood Strategy and the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP) to identify potential collaborations or funding opportunities that align with Vanderbilt’s research capabilities in environmental and marine sciences.
Vanderbilt’s Business School could analyze the economic impacts of the seafood trade strategy and regulatory changes on domestic and international markets. This analysis can provide valuable insights for policymakers and industry stakeholders, positioning Vanderbilt as a thought leader in economic policy related to the seafood industry.
The Law School should consider examining the legal implications of revising marine national monuments and the regulatory framework governing the fishing industry. This research can inform debates on balancing environmental protection with industry growth.

Opportunities

The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Environmental Policy Center to engage in policy analysis and advocacy regarding the balance between environmental conservation and industry competitiveness. By providing evidence-based recommendations, the center can influence policy decisions that impact the fishing industry and marine conservation efforts.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the focus on enhancing domestic seafood production by developing partnerships with industry stakeholders to advance research in sustainable aquaculture practices. This could include joint research initiatives and technology development, enhancing Vanderbilt’s reputation in marine sciences.
The emphasis on combating unfair foreign trade practices offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s International Trade and Economics Programs to engage in research and advocacy. By analyzing trade policies and their impacts, these programs can contribute to shaping fair trade practices and supporting American industry competitiveness.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents some adjustments needed to processes or procedures, particularly in research and policy analysis related to marine sciences and trade.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.4

Timeline for Implementation

Immediate: The directives specify that the Secretary of Commerce and the National Marine Fisheries Service take prompt action, with the language “immediately consider” indicating that no delay is intended.

Relevance Score: 5

Impacted Government Organizations

Department of Commerce: The Order directs the Secretary of Commerce to review and potentially modify regulations impacting the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries, thereby reducing regulatory burdens and enhancing domestic seafood production.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS): NMFS is tasked with modernizing fishery assessments, data collection, and permit programs, ensuring the agency implements advanced technologies and cooperative research to support sustainable fisheries management.

Relevance Score: 1 (Only 1 or 2 agencies are directly affected by the order.)

Responsible Officials

Secretary of Commerce – Directed to immediately consider suspending, revising, or rescinding regulations that burden America’s commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries.
National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) – Tasked with incorporating improved, cost-effective technologies; expanding exempted fishing permit programs; and modernizing data collection and analysis to enhance fisheries management.
Administration – Instructed to develop a seafood trade strategy, improve the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), and review existing marine national monuments for potential commercial fishing openings.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directs actions to a Cabinet official and agency heads, impacting high-level decision-making).