In the coastal village of Stonington, Maine, Virginia Olsen has spent decades working in the lobster industry and witnessing various challenges threatening this vital trade. As the fifth generation in her family engaged in lobster fishing, Olsen points to trade inequalities with Canada, stringent fishing regulations, and the emergence of offshore wind farms as significant issues.
Last month, President Donald Trump offered a potential lifeline by signing an executive order aimed at revitalizing American fisheries, promising to relax the regulations that many argue have hampered fishing activities. For Olsen and her community, Stonington—America’s busiest lobster port—this move could breathe new life into an economy almost entirely reliant on commercial fishing. Located three hours from Portland, the town is characterized by its narrow lanes and historic architecture.
Olsen has seen the industry evolve over the years. Numerous global fish and shellfish stocks have suffered alarming declines, prompting restrictive measures. However, she is optimistic that fishermen’s livelihoods are now a priority, even in distant governmental corridors where their voices previously went unheard.
“I think it’s time to re-evaluate the regulations within the fishing industry as we fish differently from a century ago,” Olsen expressed.
Trump’s “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” order seeks to revamp America’s fishing operations, driven by a significant seafood trade deficit exceeding $20 billion. With a promise to lessen regulatory pressures, the order arrives amidst calls from conservationists and scientists for more, not fewer, regulations to protect ocean ecosystems. A 2020 study highlighted declines in commonly consumed species, with 82% of fish populations below sustainable yield levels.
Prioritizing trade above conservation, the order suggests opening some marine sanctuaries, and the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument has already been reopened. The fishing community has welcomed the order, citing regulations that disadvantaged U.S. fishermen compared to less restricted international fleets—a factor leading to America importing the majority of its seafood.
“The executive order is a step toward alleviating the challenges our industry faces while bolstering American seafood’s competitiveness,” remarked Patrice McCarron of the Maine Lobstermen’s Association.
Fishermen like Don McHenan of Maine are eager to fish in previously closed areas and hopeful that new regulations will slow. However, not all share this enthusiasm. In Alaska, Matt Wiebe, with half a century of salmon fishing experience, fears the order might damage the well-managed Bristol Bay sockeye salmon fishery, drawing parallels to the decline of New England’s cod industry.
The order comes amid broader industry struggles with environmental factors and declining species. Maine’s shrimp fishery remains closed, California’s salmon industry faces hurdles, and more species have been declared overfished recently. Additionally, Trump’s trade tensions with key seafood producers like Canada and China pose another layer of uncertainty.
For those in Maine’s lobster trade, the solution is clear: reduce regulations and trust the fishermen. “The industry is over-regulated,” said Dustin Delano, a multi-generational Maine lobsterman and spokesperson for the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association. “We look forward to an America-first approach in our fisheries.”