Donald Trump’s administration has taken another step in its campaign to restore the United States’ economic dominance—this time, via the seas. With the signing of two new executive orders, the White House has unveiled an ambitious plan to revitalize the competitiveness of American seafood and unlock the full potential of the U.S. fishing fleet in the Pacific. Though presented as initiatives for economic recovery and sustainability, these actions reveal a markedly protectionist and geostrategic approach, not short on self-congratulation.
The first of the executive orders, titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness and Rebuilding Working Waterfronts”, directly targets a range of reforms to strengthen the entire value chain of the U.S. seafood industry. From boosting domestic aquaculture to modernizing port fishing infrastructure, the order aims to “unlock the economic and nutritional potential of American seafood,” according to the official statement. Key measures include:
- The creation of the American Seafood Initiative, a new interagency platform led by the Department of Commerce to coordinate investment and strategy in the sector.
- The development of a National Seafood Marketing Plan, aimed at bolstering the presence of U.S. seafood both domestically and abroad.
- A commitment to reviewing regulations affecting fishing operations, product certification, and traceability systems to make them more “agile and competitive.”
The White House has made no secret of its goal to regain market share from imported seafood products—especially those from Asia, which it implicitly blames for having displaced the domestic industry.
The second executive order, titled “Unleashing American Commercial Fishing in the Pacific”, further strengthens this strategic posture. The order authorizes the review of currently protected maritime areas to assess their potential opening to commercial fishing—under “scientific and sustainable” criteria, according to the administration. In practice, this could mean a major policy shift for areas like the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, which until now has been highly restricted.
“For too long, fisheries policy has been guided more by environmental symbolism than by science and economics,” declared a senior U.S. official during the announcement. That phrase sums up the initiative’s spirit: the United States is ready to exploit its own maritime resources if it means reducing import dependence and reinforcing global leadership.
Both executive orders also emphasize the need to modernize the fishing fleet, improve access to capital for small-scale fishers, and promote technological innovation in seafood processing. Plans even include launching a new Fisheries Infrastructure Fund, which will deploy federal resources to upgrade docks, cold storage, packaging plants, and other key infrastructure in coastal communities.
However, the tone of the announcement has not gone unnoticed. Analysts in the international fishing sector and representatives of seafood-exporting countries to the U.S. have noted the clear intention to assert dominance. “It’s an overtly assertive strategy—typical of a global power determined to prove it can supply itself and compete in any market under terms dictated from Washington,” commented a European expert consulted by Infopuertos.
The implications of these measures are significant. If the United States succeeds in reducing its dependence on seafood imports—which currently account for over 70% of national consumption—it could substantially shift global maritime trade flows. It may also spark tensions with trade partners who view these orders as covert protectionism.
Nonetheless, the White House’s message is clear: American seafood will once again be a symbol of economic strength, food security, and national pride. And it will do so with the full backing of the federal government, ready to rewrite the rules—both within and beyond its territorial waters.
