President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to overhaul recreational saltwater fishing data, permits and access rules, including a review of how NOAA estimates anglers' catch and effort.
The order calls for greater use of state data and mobile reporting, longer permit terms for charter operators and a new program to convert some decommissioned offshore structures into artificial reefs. Most provisions require agency reviews, rulemaking or other follow-up and do not immediately change fishing seasons or quotas.
The White House said the policy is intended to give recreational fishing more weight in federal decisions involving oceans, coasts and public lands. It cited an outdoor recreation sector that generates more than $1.2 trillion annually and supports more than 5 million jobs.
The order directs federal agencies to work with states and private businesses while removing restrictions the administration says burden anglers, boaters and charter operators. Agencies must still act within existing law and available appropriations.
NOAA data and fishery rules face review
Within 180 days, the commerce secretary must review federal guidelines for optimum yield and the best scientific information available under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act. The review is intended to account for recreational fisheries and speed the use of state-level information in federal decisions.
NOAA also must evaluate the reliability of traditional mail surveys used to estimate recreational catch and fishing effort. The agency is directed to consider phasing out those surveys and deploying standardized mobile applications for voluntary and mandatory electronic reporting by anglers and for-hire operators.
Data collected through those applications would be incorporated into a federal system designed to provide more timely information for stock assessments, seasonal quotas and other management decisions. The order does not specify when the new reporting tools must be available.
The administration also told NOAA to consider a threshold based on the percent standard error in Marine Recreational Information Program estimates. When federal estimates meet or exceed that threshold and a state has data with a lower error rate, NOAA would consider using the state figures instead.
The order names Atlantic striped bass as an example of a fishery that could benefit from improved information. Commerce officials must identify key species, expand tagging and real-time data collection, improve estimates of catch-and-release deaths and begin at least two pilot programs with anglers, charter captains and state agencies.
Commerce also has 180 days to develop a five-year plan for improving economic data on recreational fishing, including charter operations and shoreside businesses.
Longer permits and artificial reefs
Several agencies have 30 days to begin reviewing regulations the administration says unnecessarily restrict marine infrastructure and public access. NOAA is separately directed to explore technology that can help vessels avoid marine mammals.
Within 60 days, agencies must evaluate a move to permits lasting at least three years, with a presumption of renewal where allowed by law. The order says agencies may limit that approach to operators in good standing who meet Coast Guard safety rules, have no major environmental or fisheries violations and comply fully with electronic catch reporting.
Federal agencies also are directed to build a unified online application for special-use permits within one year. The goal is to reduce duplicate applications for activities that require approvals from more than one agency.
The Interior Department has 60 days to establish an Outer Continental Shelf Reef-in-Place Program. It would allow qualifying decommissioned oil, gas and other offshore structures to be converted into permanent artificial reefs if environmental, navigational and safety requirements are met. Offshore wind infrastructure is excluded.
NOAA and Interior also must review permitting for artificial reefs in national marine sanctuaries and marine national monuments. Any changes would remain subject to existing environmental and public-use requirements.
Predators, habitat and boating funds
The order creates an interagency task force focused on sharks and pinnipeds that take hooked or captured fish. Commerce has 90 days to develop a real-time reporting system for those incidents and integrate it into federal and state-linked data platforms.
The task force also is directed to review domestic and international barriers to sustainable shark fisheries. Any resulting changes would have to comply with federal law, treaties and conservation obligations.
Interior and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must identify delays in distributing money from the Sport Fish Restoration and Boating Trust Fund. A separate working group is due within 60 days to coordinate habitat restoration projects and reduce duplication among federal agencies.
The order says it does not override existing agency authority or create a legal right to any particular permit, quota or regulatory outcome. Implementation is subject to congressional funding and additional agency action.
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