Research about global fishing shows value of detailed environmental data, which the Trump administration seeks to limit

Research on global fishing is being used to argue that detailed environmental data is essential for identifying who is most affected by pollution, at a time when the Trump administration is seeking to restrict how such data is collected. The analysis notes that since President Donald Trump began his second term, the U.S. government has shifted toward publishing only average and aggregate pollution levels that do not differentiate exposure by race, gender, or ethnicity. The article contrasts this with earlier approaches that enabled researchers to study disparities in vulnerability and access to support. It highlights fishing as an example: a 2023 UN Food and Agriculture Organization report estimates small-scale fisheries catch about $77 billion in fish annually, 44% of the global total, and employ over 90% of fishing-related workers, with a higher share of women than large-scale operations.