Trump Reopens Protected Atlantic Ocean Area to Commercial Fishing

The move reverses Obama-era protections for vulnerable undersea ecosystems

Feb. 6, 2026 at 6:39pm

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

Why it matters

This decision is the latest in a series of moves by the Trump administration to roll back environmental protections in order to bolster the commercial fishing industry. Critics argue that unregulated fishing in the protected area could put fragile marine habitats and ecosystems at risk, while supporters say it will support Maine's vital lobster industry.

The details

Trump's proclamation overturns the protections put in place by Obama in 2016, which banned commercial fishing in the nearly 5,000-square-mile marine monument. The president argued that "appropriately managed commercial fishing would not put the objects of historic and scientific interest that the monument protects at risk." Commercial fishing groups have long sought the reopening of the protected area and voiced support for Trump's decision, with one company president saying "We deserve to be rewarded, not penalized." However, environmental groups have strongly criticized the move, vowing to fight it in court.

  • President Trump issued the proclamation reopening the protected area on February 6, 2026.
  • The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument was originally created by President Barack Obama in 2016.

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 originally created the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in 2016 to protect vulnerable undersea ecosystems.

John Williams

The president and owner of the Atlantic Red Crab Company, a commercial fishing group that voiced support for Trump's decision to reopen the protected area.

Gib Brogan

The fisheries campaign director at the environmental group Oceana, who criticized Trump's move to reopen the monument to commercial 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 challenge Trump's decision to reopen the protected area in court.

The takeaway

This decision represents the latest effort by the Trump administration to roll back environmental protections in order to boost the commercial fishing industry, raising concerns about the potential impact on fragile marine ecosystems.