Trump Reopens Commercial Fishing in Atlantic Ocean Off New England

Reverses Obama-era protections for marine national monument

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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President Donald Trump has issued a presidential proclamation reopening thousands of square miles of protected Atlantic Ocean waters off New England to commercial fishing. The move reverses protections put in place by former President Barack Obama for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a nearly 5,000-square-mile preserve east of Cape Cod.

Why it matters

The decision to reopen the area to commercial fishing is seen as a win for the fishing industry, which has long criticized the restrictions as unfair. However, environmental groups warn that the move could threaten sensitive marine ecosystems in the protected area.

The details

Trump's proclamation would reestablish fishing in the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, which was created by Obama in 2016 to protect vulnerable undersea corals and ecosystems. Trump rolled back protections in the area during his first term, but President Joe Biden later restored them. Now, Trump is reversing the protections again, saying the move will 'revitalize our fishing industry and strengthen our booming economy.'

  • In 2016, former President Barack Obama created the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.
  • During his first term, President Trump rolled back the protections for the monument.
  • President Biden later restored the protections for the monument.
  • On February 7, 2026, President Trump issued a new proclamation reopening the monument to commercial fishing.

The players

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who issued the proclamation reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing.

Barack Obama

The former President of the United States who created the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in 2016.

Joe Biden

The current President of the United States who had previously restored the protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument.

John Williams

The president and owner of the New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Atlantic Red Crab Company, who welcomed the move to reopen the area to commercial fishing.

Gib Brogan

The fisheries campaign director at the environmental group Oceana, who criticized the proclamation and warned that reopening the area could threaten sensitive marine ecosystems.

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What they’re saying

“We deserve to be rewarded, not penalized. We're demonstrating that we can fish sustainably and continue to harvest on a sustainable level in perpetuity.”

— John Williams, President and Owner, Atlantic Red Crab Company (The Associated Press)

“The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was created to provide strong protections for the wide range of marine life that live in these unique habitats.”

— Gib Brogan, Fisheries Campaign Director, Oceana (The Associated Press)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the proclamation to take effect, as environmental groups are expected to challenge the decision in court.

The takeaway

This decision highlights the ongoing tension between the fishing industry's desire for expanded access and environmental groups' concerns about protecting sensitive marine ecosystems. The fate of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument remains uncertain as the legal battle over its future continues.