Releases
WHAT THEY ARE SAYING: President Trump Puts America’s Fishermen First and Secures American Seafood Dominance
The White House
October 30, 2026
President Trump has delivered historic wins for America’s fishing industry by putting American fishermen first, unlocking billions of dollars in economic growth, revitalizing the industry, and providing critical regulatory relief.
Just one week ago, the Trump Administration unveiled its historic America First Seafood Strategy and launched Seafood.gov , to ensure that American fishermen, workers, industry, and coastal communities thrive from Alaska to Maine . The Trump Administration’s strategy is simple: end federal policies that punished American producers and rewarded foreign dependence.
President Trump wasted no time in implementing important elements of his America First Seafood Strategy by announcing the new “U.S. Caught Seafood” voluntary label and making available more than $5 billion in guaranteed loans to expand American meat and seafood processing.
Here’s what they’re saying:
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick : “The species managed in U.S. waters are American icons – from Maine lobster to Gulf shrimp, from Alaskan salmon to Florida stone crab, American seafood is a rich part of U.S. history and our vibrant coastal economy. The America First Seafood Strategy ensures that the future of seafood in the United States will be built by American fishermen, American workers, and American industry—not by foreign imports.”
Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr . : “I spent 40 years working for the commercial fishermen in this country, and commercial fishermen in this country have the strongest environmental regulations and the greatest sustainability regulations, but it puts them at a disadvantage to all the other fishermen in the world… President Trump is rebuilding the infrastructure and reopening the markets for our commercial fishermen.”
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins : “AMERICAN SEAFOOD FIRST! 🇺🇸🦞 For too long, foreign imports have undercut American fishermen and workers. Under @POTUS, we’re changing that with [the] launch of the America First Seafood Strategy. Rebuilding American fisheries. Strengthening domestic production. Putting American fishermen FIRST. It’s time for American seafood to WIN in American markets!”
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett : “It’s 100% true that the welfare of Maine growers and Maine fishermen, and especially the fishermen in Alaska, has been a key focus of this White House, and that message has been delivered.”
United Catcher Boats : “[W]e’re pleased to see the Trump Administration recognizing the importance of American-caught seafood and the fishermen who harvest it! America’s seafood economy supports jobs, families, and coastal communities across the country. And Alaska is at the heart of it… We appreciate the Administration’s leadership in bringing attention to these challenges and introducing the new voluntary U.S. Caught Seafood label, helping consumers recognize seafood harvested by American fishermen aboard U.S.-flagged vessels.”
North Carolina Fishermen’s Association Chair Brent Fulcher : “President Trump has brought more attention to the problems facing U.S. fishermen than any other in my lifetime. This plan coordinates multiple federal agencies to support U.S. seafood producers in fixing complex, long-term problems. It is a powerful step needed to rebuild America’s ability to produce seafood for generations to come, and I look forward to seeing the results.”
Alaska Marine Community Coalition Executive Director Michelle Stratton : “Investing in American seafood means investing in the people and places that keep this country fed… We thank the Administration for making fishing communities a national priority and recognizing their importance to America’s economic future.”
New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association Director of Advocacy Jason Joyce : “The U.S. Caught Seafood label is a major win for consumers, American fishermen, seafood processors, and retailers alike. Our fishermen comply with some of the highest regulatory, health, safety, and environmental standards in the world, and consumers deserve to know that their seafood is harvested safely and sustainably by American fishermen. We believe U.S. seafood is the most sustainably harvested in the world, and this label gives consumers a simple, recognizable way to identify American-caught seafood while supporting our domestic fishing, processing, and retail industries.”
Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Executive Director Ben Martens : “A strong fishing industry needs vessels and ports that can carry it into the future… We welcome the attention to fleet and port modernization and access to financing. These are practical investments in safer operations, stronger businesses, and waterfronts that can continue serving their communities for generations.”
National Seafood Association President and CEO Lisa Wallenda Picard : “The National Seafood Association applauds the Trump Administration for recognizing the essential role seafood plays in America’s economic health and public health. A robust commercial seafood sector and an emphasis on affordable, healthy, protein-focused nutrition work together to benefit Americans.
“We see great promise in a holistic plan that prioritizes rebuilding infrastructure, eliminating regulatory barriers, and encouraging investment in the commercial seafood sector.
“As global sourcing plays an indispensable role in feeding American families and keeping seafood processing and distribution workers in this country employed, the strategy’s emphasis on these priorities is spot on. We look forward to working with the Administration on its effort to promote America’s iconic catch and drive consumption of the healthiest animal protein on the planet.”
New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance Executive Director Andrea Tomlinson : “We are excited to see national attention on the businesses and communities where the next generation will build their careers, and we look forward to helping turn that momentum into lasting opportunities for young fishermen.”
Southern Shrimp Alliance Executive Director Blake Price : “President Trump has prioritized getting fishermen back to work to supply Americans with healthy, sustainable, domestically-sourced seafood. The U.S. shrimp industry is thrilled to see a detailed America First Seafood Strategy and looks forward to assisting federal agencies in the implementation of its objectives.”
Fishing Communities Coalition : “The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) welcomes the America First Seafood Strategy and thanks the Trump Administration and its federal agency partners for recognizing American fishermen as essential food producers and investing in the future of the communities they sustain.
“The strategy brings together priorities critical to fishing businesses nationwide: strengthening domestic markets, modernizing vessels and working waterfronts, improving access to financing, combating illegal fishing and unfair competition, and supporting fisheries management informed by current science. For FCC’s community-based fishing organizations, this coordinated attention represents an important opportunity to strengthen America’s seafood system from the water to the dinner table.”
Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance Deputy Director Eric Brazer : “We welcome the strategy’s focus on leveling the playing field, applaud the renewed focus on marketing our high-quality products to consumers who value buying American, and thank the Administration for standing behind the fishermen who supply this country with responsibly harvested seafood.”
Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara Executive Director Kim Selkoe : “We welcome the emphasis on promoting American seafood in export markets alongside the infrastructure needed to land it in our ports and deliver it throughout the supply chain. Local docks, ice, cold storage, and processing connect fishermen to customers near and far. Supporting those connections helps more of the value of each catch stay in the community.”
