In a reversal of Trump administration moves, the Biden White House announced in October that the president would be signing an executive order to restore the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument. The national marine protection in the Northeast canyon areas including Oceanographer, Gilbert and Lydonia canyons, as well as nearby seamounts of Bear, Physalla, Retriever and Mytilus, were first established by President Barack Obama in an executive order in 2016, an action that was reversed by President Donald Trump.
Under the White House’s plans, recreational fishing in the monuments area may continue but commercial fishing will be prohibited, with fishing for red crab and American lobster to be phased out by September 15, 2023. The White House cited the area’s “unique geological features that anchor vulnerable ecological communities threatened by varied uses, climate change, and related impacts.”
While these distant offshore canyon grounds are not exactly easy to access areas for recreational fishermen, members of the commercial sector who have effectively been shut out of the decision expressed dissatisfaction with the White House. “This is an unfortunate decision that is opposed not only by those affected in the commercial fishing industry, but by all eight fishery management councils and NOAA Fisheries,” said Bob Vanasse of Saving Seafood, a group that represents fishing industry interests.
“There is no scientific justification to prohibit commercial fishing while allowing recreational fishing,” said Vanasse, adding “While the Biden-Harris Administration has claimed decisions will be based on science, and not on who has the stronger lobby, this decision shows otherwise.”
Vanasse told National Fisherman magazine that the commercial sector’s next move might be to the U.S. Supreme Court. “Now all we can do is hope that the full Supreme Court takes heed of Chief Justice Roberts’ who recently expressed concern that presidents have been exercising ‘power without any discernible limit’ when they create new national monuments,” he said.
