President Trump recently faced a major blow in his battle against commercial fishing regulations. completion SIGNING a wider range of April that aims to reduce the regulatory burden on the industry, he is now taken direct aim of the first and only Marine National Monument in the Atlantic Ocean.

The White House released a proclamation on February 6 restoring commercial fishing access to all 4,913 square miles (12,725 square kilometers) of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument, located about 130 miles (209 kilometers) from Cape Cod. The place BECOMES a National Monument in 2016 under the Obama administration to protect deep-sea canyons and seamounts, home to fragile ecosystems and rich biodiversity.

If this sounds familiar, it’s because Trump lifted the ban on commercial fishing in the Monument in 2020, during his first term. The Biden administration brought it back in 2021, and now the tables have turned again. This bipartisan tug-of-war highlights how changing political priorities can undermine conservation efforts that depend solely on executive action.

A mecca for marine wildlife

This expanse of marine habitat has been the focus of scientific research since the 1970s, according to NOAA. It consists of two distinct units: the Canyons unit, which hosts three marine canyons, and the Seamounts unit, home to four seamounts. This amazing submerged sight has attracted interest from oceanographers and marine biologists for decades.

At least 54 species of deep-sea corals—dwelling at least 12,795 feet (3,900 meters) below the surface—live within the Monument’s boundaries. These cold-water reefs serve as the foundation of a vibrant ecosystem that supports many fish and invertebrate species, providing food, breeding habitat, and shelter.

The rugged walls of the canyons also host filter feeders such as corals, sponges, and invertebrates that support large species, including squid, octopus, skate, flounder, and crabs. And the temperature gradients, eddies, and fronts of the Monument influence the distribution patterns of migratory species such as tuna, billfish, and sharks.

Many types of toothed whales—such as -century sperm whales—and beaked whales flock to submarine canyons. Sperm whale hunting was a cornerstone of New England’s economy in the 18th and 19th centuries, and the species remains iconic to the region. Researchers also observed fin whales and sei whales—two more -century species—inside the canyons.

Because seamounts are geographically isolated from the mainland seafloor, they support many rare and endemic species, many of which are new to science and found nowhere else on Earth. These include deep-sea corals that are hundreds or thousands of years old and a diverse array of benthic marine organisms that do not live on the surrounding sea floor.

“These beautiful canyons and seamounts are protected because vulnerable animals like the endangered sperm whale depend on them to survive,” Kristen Monsell, ocean legal director at the Center for Biological Diversity, said in a statement. “It is illegal and illogical for Trump to try to remove protections just to drop commercial fishing a few more bucks.”

The threat to commercial fishing

Before Trump’s rollback, commercial fishing was one of the many activities BANNED within the National Monument, except for red crab and American lobster fishing. The ban reflects the industry’s potential to destroy habitats, damage ecosystems, and cause “bycatch,” when non-target species are accidentally caught or injured.

Trump’s proclamation claims that “a ban on commercial fishing is not necessary for the proper care and management of the Monument,” arguing that many fish species are highly migratory, are not unique to the area, and are already protected by existing laws. Leaders throughout the fishing industry have Praise Trump’s decision, but many environmentalists disagree.

In October, more than 230 scientists and 53 ocean conservation organizations signed a letter to NOAA saying that lifting fishing restrictions on marine monuments would put “sensitive ocean ecosystems and the local economies that depend on them” at risk of permanent damage, Politico reported.

Their concerns clearly haven’t discouraged the Trump administration from moving forward with its plans. With the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument reopening for business, we can only hope that the fishing industry will take extra care to mitigate its impact on this precious natural area.