September 11, 2026 — In a move that could have dramatic impacts on the ocean, the federal government wants to remove some protections and modify others for a host of marine life − including sea turtles and North Atlantic right whales off the North Carolina coast − to help revitalize the American seafood industry.
Calling the layers of bureaucracy and red tape commercial fishermen now have to navigate unwieldy and economic anchors, the Trump administration wants to cut back rules and regulations fishermen have to follow to protect endangered species and open protected marine areas to fishing.
But environmentalists and biologists fear the moves could seriously hurt some marine species that are teetering on the edge of extinction or only now showing signs of recovery after decades of recovery efforts.