American fishermen showed up at the Oval Office on June 11 with a simple message for President Trump.
Thank you.
They came to thank him for cutting Biden-era regulations they say were strangling their industry.
One of them told the President he had done more for them than any leader in his lifetime.
“You have done more for this nation in the seafood space than any president before you in my lifetime,” the fisherman said.
That gratitude landed the same day Trump signed a proclamation reopening nearly half a million square miles of Pacific waters to American commercial fishing.
Fox News posted the Oval Office moment here:
“You have done more for this nation in the seafood space than any president before you in my lifetime.”
American fishermen came to the Oval Office to thank President Trump for cutting Biden-era regulations they say were crushing their industry — and even made him an honorary… pic.twitter.com/52W9MtdKH3
— Fox News (@FoxNews) June 11, 2026
The White House says the proclamation advances the America First Fishing Policy by restoring access that prior rules had locked up.
It reopens commercial fishing in the Mau and Ho’omalu Zones of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
The White House laid it out in its fact sheet:
UNLEASHING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN THE PACIFIC: Today, President Donald J. Trump signed a proclamation to restore commercial fishing access to nearly half a million square miles in the Pacific, advancing the America First Fishing Policy.
The proclamation restores commercial fishing access to the Mau and Ho’omalu Zones of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument.
PUTTING AMERICA FIRST IN SEAFOOD COMPETITIVENESS: President Trump is committed to removing unnecessary restrictions on American fishermen in order to enhance U.S. domestic seafood production and lower seafood prices, support American jobs, and promote food and national security.
Onerous restrictions unnecessarily prohibited commercial fishing within areas of the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument, the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument, removing job opportunities for American workers.
Prohibiting commercial fishing is not necessary for the proper care and management of these Monuments, as many fish species are highly migratory, not unique to the area, and are already protected through existing laws, such as the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
ADVERTISEMENTProhibiting commercial fishing in this area also artificially restricts domestic fish supply, which makes the United States reliant on foreign sources for our food supply and increases the cost of seafood for everyday Americans.
The proclamation opens economic and job opportunities for U.S. fishing families, coastal communities, seafood processors, and related maritime industries, ensuring unfettered access to the coastal waters of the U.S. while maintaining rigorous environmental protections.
Commercial fishing supports thousands of American jobs across the harvesting, processing, transportation, shipbuilding, equipment manufacturing, distribution, sales, and service industries.
The proclamation strengthens the domestic seafood supply chain and reduces U.S. dependence on imported seafood.
The administration says the old prohibitions did not protect the monuments so much as punish American workers.
Many of the fish in question are highly migratory and not unique to the area, the White House notes, and they are already covered by existing law like the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act.
NOAA framed the move as a direct answer to what fishermen had been asking for.
NOAA reported:
On June 11, 2026, President Trump signed an “Executive Proclamation Restoring American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific,” opening additional prized fishing grounds to hard-working American fishermen and United States flagged fishing vessels. This bold Executive action opens more economic opportunities for commercial fishermen and continues to strengthen the economic security of coastal communities.
NOAA is proud to support the Administration’s pledge to restore U.S. seafood competitiveness through the America First Fishing Policy. The President’s Executive Proclamation comes as a direct result of feedback from the U.S. fishing industry, and his action will continue to increase economic opportunities for American fishermen.
ADVERTISEMENT“President Trump is once again delivering for American fishermen by opening prized Pacific fishing grounds with this Executive Proclamation,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “By restoring commercial fishing in the remote Pacific, we are creating new economic opportunity for coastal communities and restoring U.S. seafood competitiveness.”
Previous prohibitions on commercial fishing in the Pacific Ocean forced American commercial fishermen further offshore into international waters to compete against poorly regulated foreign fishing fleets. Restoring access to these valuable fishing grounds within the U.S. exclusive economic zone will give diligent and honest American fishermen closer access to tuna and other pelagic species.
“Restoring commercial fishing access to these vital areas reflects the continued commitment of this Administration to American fisheries, which are built on the foundation of rigorous science, robust monitoring, strong enforcement, and the daily commitment of our dedicated fishermen,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “This historic action will lead to more U.S.-caught fish on American tables.”
That last point is the heart of it.
American boats were being pushed out of American waters and into the open ocean to compete with foreign fleets that play by far looser rules.
NOAA says reopening these grounds gives U.S. fishermen closer access to tuna and other pelagic species inside the country’s own exclusive economic zone.
The proclamation keeps the guardrails the administration says matter.
Commercial fishing remains subject to all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, including Magnuson-Stevens.
It also limits the catch to U.S.-flagged vessels inside the monument boundaries, with narrow permit exceptions for foreign-flagged boats carrying fish that American fishermen already harvested.
The fishermen in that Oval Office did not need a policy briefing to understand any of this.
They live it on the water every day, and they came to Washington to say thanks while the ink was still drying.
This is a Guest Post from our friends over at WLTReport. View the original article here.
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