Bold action prioritizes American anglers, cuts red tape, and strengthens coastal economies

Today, President Trump signed an Executive Order restoring American saltwater angling and recreation, delivering decisive action for America’s recreational fishermen, coastal economies, and outdoor enthusiasts. The order further advances the success of the President’s Make America Beautiful Again (MABA) Commission and the national effort to restore American seafood competitiveness and elevate the domestic fishing industry.

“This is a historic win for American anglers and the coastal communities that depend on them. By removing restrictions and modernizing our data, we are investing in the businesses that make up the backbone of our coastal communities,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. “Recreational fishing is an American powerhouse for jobs. This Order strengthens our nation’s coastal economies for generations to come.”

America’s outdoor recreation sector generates more than $1.2 trillion annually and supports over 5 million jobs. This order ends years of restrictive federal policies that sidelined recreational anglers, instead elevating saltwater fishing access as a national priority and empowering recreational anglers, charter operators, boaters, and the businesses that depend on them. 

The order prioritizes data-driven science, directing a review and modernization of outdated methods such as mail-in surveys, and calling for the implementation of new technologies that streamline costs and provide reporting opportunities in real-time. These methods will boost the accuracy of stock assessments, allow faster integration of state data into federal processes, and inform better federal and state management strategies for recreational fisheries.

“As a life-long saltwater angler, I am proud to advance our science to implement common-sense regulations that support our recreational fishing community,” said NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D. “NOAA will improve our stock assessment process by leveraging state data, while exploring new technologies to combat shark depredation.”

Additional directives include:

• Fixing flawed federal data systems by allowing high-quality state data to replace unreliable federal estimates when appropriate.
• Streamlining permitting for fishing charters by allowing multi-year terms, relying on a presumption of approval for compliant charter businesses, and implementing a one-stop interagency permitting portal.
• Supporting the conversion of eligible offshore structures into permanent artificial reefs to boost fish populations and recreational opportunities.
• Establishing new tools to combat shark and pinniped depredation while prioritizing American anglers.
• Safeguarding boater access through precision technology rather than relying on sweeping area closures.
• Cutting bureaucratic delays on funding that restores fish habitat and increases abundance.

The Order establishes concrete timelines for reviews of National Standards guidelines, new pilot programs with the angling community, a five-year economic data plan, and rapid action to suspend or rescind regulations that burden boaters and outdoor businesses. These actions drive new recreational opportunities for Americans by unlocking access to America’s abundant outdoor spaces, and provide regulatory certainty and renewed opportunities that benefit the outdoor recreation economy.