Trump Signs Order Prioritizing Recreational Fishing and Artificial Reefs

President Donald Trump issued an executive order titled Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation to prioritize recreational fishing and reduce regulatory burdens for boaters and outdoor businesses. The order directs the United States Department of Commerce to review fisheries guidelines under the Magnuson-Stevens Act and instructs the United States Department of the Interior to create a program that converts decommissioned offshore oil and gas structures into artificial reefs.

As part of the initiative, the order establishes an Interagency Shark and Pinniped Depredation Task Force. This group is tasked with addressing marine predators that take fish from anglers' lines and examining existing barriers to shark fisheries.

The National Marine Fisheries Service stated the action provides stability to the 1.2 trillion dollar outdoor recreation economy. However, conservation advocates have criticized the move. Lance Morgan, president of the Marine Conservation Institute, warned that the order guts ocean protections and dismantles science-based marine management. Critics further claim the policy provides a handout to the oil industry and threatens endangered species, specifically the North Atlantic right whale.