Here’s what happened.
President Donald Trump announced what he called “National Scallops Day” on Thursday while unveiling a major expansion of commercial scallop fishing in New England waters, saying the move will help American fishermen, boost seafood production, and create jobs across the East Coast.
The announcement also gave Trump another opportunity to criticize the environmental policies of former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden, arguing their administrations placed unnecessary restrictions on one of America’s most important fishing industries.
In a Truth Social post, Trump said he was declaring National Scallops Day to celebrate a new decision by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to reopen the Northern Edge of Georges Bank for commercial scallop harvesting.
According to the president, the policy fulfills a long-awaited goal for America’s commercial fishermen, many of whom have argued for years that excessive federal regulations have limited production, reduced profits, and hurt coastal communities that depend on the seafood industry.
NOAA Announces Major Changes For Commercial Fishermen
Alongside Trump’s announcement, NOAA released a series of new regional priorities designed to strengthen America’s commercial fishing industry and improve seafood production.
Agency officials said their New England strategy will focus on:
- Reducing costly industry-funded monitoring requirements.
- Modernizing the commercial fishing fleet.
- Reviewing long-standing fishing closures.
- Increasing economic opportunities for working fishermen.
- Restoring productivity in some of the nation’s most valuable fishing grounds.
NOAA also announced it will introduce rotational access for scallop fishing in the Northern Edge of Georges Bank, allowing fishermen to harvest designated areas on a rotating schedule.
In addition, multiple commercial fishermen will now be allowed to combine their scallop permits onto a single vessel, a move expected to improve efficiency while lowering operating costs.
The changes are part of President Trump’s April 2025 executive order directing federal agencies to reduce regulations that his administration believes have placed unnecessary burdens on America’s fishing industry.
Georges Bank Remains One Of America’s Richest Fishing Grounds
Georges Bank has long been considered one of the most productive commercial fishing regions in the world.
Located off the New England coast, the massive underwater plateau covers an area larger than Massachusetts and separates the Gulf of Maine from the Atlantic Ocean.
According to NOAA, the region’s nutrient-rich waters create an exceptionally productive marine ecosystem that has supported thriving commercial fisheries for centuries. The area remains one of the nation’s most valuable sources of scallops, lobster, cod, and other seafood harvested by American fishermen.
Large portions of Georges Bank have remained closed under federal habitat protection rules that limit the use of bottom-contact fishing gear. Administration officials have not yet confirmed whether additional environmental restrictions will be reviewed or modified.
Trump Says More Seafood And More Jobs Are Coming
Trump predicted the expanded access will significantly increase domestic scallop production while creating new jobs throughout the East Coast.
He said the decision will put millions of additional pounds of wild American scallops on dinner tables while supporting commercial fishing communities in Norfolk, Virginia; Cape May, New Jersey; New Bedford, Massachusetts; and numerous other ports along the Atlantic coast.
The president also highlighted previous actions that reopened additional fishing areas for lobster harvesters.
Trump argued that environmental protections created under the Obama and Biden administrations unnecessarily restricted American fishermen while allowing foreign competitors to benefit from nearby waters.
He added that his administration has worked to eliminate what he described as burdensome federal regulations and encouraged voters to support Republican candidates in the upcoming midterm elections.
America’s Scallop Industry Remains A Major Economic Driver
Although scallop harvests have declined from historic highs in recent years, Atlantic sea scallops remain one of the most valuable commercial seafood products harvested in the United States.
According to NOAA Fisheries, American fishermen landed 21.2 million pounds of Atlantic sea scallops in 2024, generating approximately $332 million in dockside value.
Most of the nation’s commercial scallop harvest comes from vessels based in Massachusetts, Virginia, and New Jersey, making the industry a critical source of jobs and economic activity for many East Coast communities.
Supporters of the administration’s latest policy say expanding access to productive fishing grounds could help strengthen domestic seafood production, support family-owned fishing businesses, and reduce regulatory costs that have weighed on the industry for years. Critics, meanwhile, are expected to raise concerns about the long-term environmental impact of expanding commercial access to protected waters.
