NOAA Fisheries Takes a 'Sharp Turn Away From Science'

NOAA says it is reshaping fisheries management to reduce bureaucracy, “modernize our science,” and put fishing communities first, but critics argue the changes will weaken protections for fish, endangered species, and marine habitats. The announcement follows a broader policy push tied to a Trump executive order signed in April 2025 and would include opening marine national monuments to commercial fishing, scaling back critical habitat designations, and weakening peer-reviewed science. Experts also point to letters sent to regional fisheries councils directing them to dismantle restrictions. The proposal also targets National Standards under the 1976 Magnuson-Stevens Act, covering overfishing prevention, best science, community impacts, and bycatch mitigation.