Trump Reopens Atlantic Marine Monument to Fishing

Does reopening the Marine Monument endanger a unique ecosystem or empower fishing communities?

Published 10 hours ago

Trump Reopens Atlantic Marine Monument to Fishing

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Above: Catch is offloaded from a fishing vessel at Lund's Fisheries Inc. in Cape May, New Jersey, on Oct. 17, 2023. Image credit: Rachel Wisniewski/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Spin

Anti-Trump narrative

Rolling back protections for the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument recklessly endangers a unique marine ecosystem that serves as the only highly protected area in the Atlantic Ocean. This natural treasure provides critical refuge for endangered species, rare deep-sea corals and migrating marine mammals, while supporting coastal economies through tourism and scientific research. Existing federal laws alone cannot adequately protect this irreplaceable underwater laboratory from the damage of industrial fishing.

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Pro-Trump narrative

Reopening the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument to commercial fishing removes unnecessary restrictions that have unfairly burdened American fishermen while providing no real conservation benefit. Existing federal laws like the Magnuson-Stevens Act already protect migratory fish species in these waters, making the Obama-era fishing ban redundant and economically harmful. Restoring access to nearly 5,000 square miles of ocean empowers New England's fishing communities and strengthens coastal economies without threatening marine habitats.

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