US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order last week aimed at reviving the American seafood industry, focusing on increasing domestic production and reducing reliance on imports.
The order, titled Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, imposes higher tariffs on imported seafood and mandates a review of federal regulations that industry leaders say have limited the growth of US fisheries.
Trump’s order also calls for reducing regulatory barriers and addressing what it describes as “unfair trade practices.” It follows a similar action taken during his first term in office.
Local officials and business owners along the Gulf Coast have welcomed the move. Joe Spraggins, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, highlighted that only 5–10% of the shrimp consumed in the US is sourced domestically.
Shrimpers and seafood processors in Biloxi, including Long Vu and Richard Marx, said the tariffs could level the playing field by making domestic seafood more competitive in price. Sean Desporte, owner of a long-running seafood business, said the order is a step toward increasing demand for local products.
The order may lead to increased prices in restaurants, but supporters believe the long-term gains in domestic industry resilience will outweigh short-term costs.
The executive order also addresses fishing limits, access to fishing grounds, outdated data, and delays in adopting new technology—all identified as barriers to US seafood competitiveness.
