Trump Reopens Atlantic Marine Monument to Commercial Fishing

Commercial fishing operations in the Atlantic — many of which are family-run businesses similar in structure to farming and ranching — can now return to nearly 5,000 square miles of previously restricted ocean waters. This reopening gives fishermen access to productive fishing grounds near deep-sea canyons and seamounts where migratory species like tuna concentrate, potentially increasing their catch and revenue. However, the direct beneficiaries are a relatively small subset of Atlantic commercial fishermen who operate in this specific offshore area.

Many commercial fishing operations are small businesses, and this proclamation opens up access to a roughly 4,913-square-mile area of the Atlantic that had been closed to commercial fishing. Small fishing companies and boat operators working off the Northeast coast may see new opportunities to harvest fish in these waters, which could boost income. The impact is limited to the relatively small number of fishing businesses that operate far enough offshore to reach this monument area.