President Donald Trump has issued a presidential proclamation that reopens nearly 5,000 square miles of ocean off the New England coast to commercial fishing, overturning long-standing federal protections.

The area affected is the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, a federally protected marine zone east of Cape Cod that was originally created under former President Barack Obama to safeguard underwater ecosystems. 

Biden reinstated the rules in 2021.

Trump’s proclamation revokes the Biden-era ban on commercial fishing, restoring access for U.S. fishing fleets and industry groups.

In announcing the move, the White House said it would help reduce regulatory burdens on the fishing industry and bolster coastal economies, especially in places like Maine. 

The White House argued that existing federal laws already provide sufficient environmental protections and that sustainable fishing can continue without threatening protected habitats.