5.) Deregulation of U.S. fisheries
Despite campaigning on a promise of decreasing the number of decrees issued by the executive branch, President Trump has issued 15 executive actions through the end of his first 11 days in office.
On 30 January, he issued an executive order calling for all governmental agencies to eliminate “at least two” current regulations to be repealed for each new proposed regulation. And it says the net incremental cost for fiscal 2017 should “be no greater than zero,” meaning the cost of new regulations should be offset by existing rules that will be rescinded, according to Politico. Trump also previously issued an executive order imposing a hiring freeze for most federal agencies.
Combined, these mark the opening salvos in Trump’s effort to reduce the size of the federal government and improve conditions for businesses large and small.
“We’re cutting regulations massively for small business — and for large business,” he said during the order signing. “We’ll be reducing [federal regulations] big league and their damaging effects on our small businesses, our economy, our entrepreneurial spirit.”
This could be good news for the seafood industry, which struggles under the jurisdiction of several federal agencies and which is subject to a complex web of federal laws and policies, rules set by regional management councils and other regional, state and local rules.
It also reveals that groups who represent American business interests, including the National Fisheries Institute, the seafood lobbying group, are likely to find a friendly ear and powerful ally in the Trump Administration.
However, Trump has not directly signaled his support for the seafood industry, and if and when a fight arises that pits seafood against another American industry, such as energy companies seeking to expand offshore drilling or the extraction of climate-changing fuels such as coal and oil, it’s unclear whose side Trump will take.
It’s apparent that Trump is taking a new approach to governing – one that hasn’t been seen in Washington in a very long time, if ever. Many find it refreshing that Trump does not enter his duties as president with preconceived biases against certain industries.
The seafood industry must work hard and quickly to gain the sympathies and good graces of the administration. The stakes are high. Success would present a huge opportunity to the industry. Failure may mean the domestic industry, already facing some significant headwinds, could be entirely bowled over by the frequent gales that have been originating from 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington D.C. since Inauguration Day.
