Trump Reopens Protected Atlantic Ocean Area to Commercial Fishing

Proclamation reverses Obama-era restrictions on fishing in Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:07pm

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President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on Friday that reopens a nearly 5,000-square-mile protected area in the Atlantic Ocean off the New England coast to commercial fishing. The area, known as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, was created by former President Barack Obama in 2016 to protect vulnerable undersea ecosystems. Trump has long been critical of the monument, describing it as an unfair penalty on commercial fishermen.

Why it matters

This move by Trump is the latest in his efforts to roll back existing conservation measures and strengthen U.S. fishing rights. It is likely to face legal challenges from environmental groups who argue the protected area is crucial for preserving marine life and habitats.

The details

Trump's proclamation reverses protections that were put in place by Obama in 2016. The monument covers nearly 5,000 square miles southeast of Cape Cod and was designated to protect vulnerable deep-sea corals and other ecosystems. Trump has repeatedly linked his support for reopening the area to helping Maine's lobster industry, though the monument is located off the coast of Massachusetts.

  • President Donald Trump issued the proclamation on February 6, 2026.
  • The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was created by former President Barack Obama in 2016.
  • In 2020, Trump rolled back the protections for the monument, which were later restored by President Joe Biden.

The players

Donald Trump

The 45th President of the United States, who issued the proclamation reopening the protected Atlantic Ocean area to commercial fishing.

Barack Obama

The 44th President of the United States, who created the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in 2016 to protect vulnerable undersea ecosystems.

Joe Biden

The 46th President of the United States, who later restored the protections for the monument that Trump had rolled back.

John Williams

The president and owner of the New Bedford, Massachusetts-based Atlantic Red Crab Company, who voiced support for reopening the protected area to commercial fishing.

Gib Brogan

The fisheries campaign director at the environmental group Oceana, who criticized the move to reopen the monument to fishing.

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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 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

What’s next

Environmental groups have vowed to fight Trump's proclamation in court, arguing that the protected area is crucial for preserving marine life and habitats.

The takeaway

This move by Trump is the latest in his efforts to roll back environmental protections in favor of strengthening U.S. fishing rights, despite concerns from conservationists about the impact on vulnerable marine ecosystems.