President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to give greater consideration to recreational fishing while modernizing how the government manages saltwater fisheries. The order, titled “Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation,” applies to federal ocean, coastal, and public-land decisions and calls for closer cooperation with states and private businesses.

The order states that the outdoor recreation sector generates more than $1.2 trillion annually and supports more than 5 million jobs. It identifies recreational fishing, offshore boating, and charter operations as major contributors to the outdoor economy and directs federal policy toward expanding access while maintaining sustainable fisheries management.

A major portion of the directive focuses on updating fisheries data. The Commerce Department and NOAA are directed to evaluate the reliability of traditional mail-in surveys and move toward modern electronic reporting, including mobile applications that can collect catch and effort information from recreational anglers and for-hire operators.

The administration also wants state-level information incorporated more quickly into federal fisheries decisions. The order directs the Commerce Secretary to review guidelines under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act and consider changes that account for the biological, economic, and social characteristics of recreational fisheries.

The directive specifically calls for new pilot programs involving depleted or declining fisheries, including Atlantic striped bass. Federal officials are also instructed to develop a five-year strategic plan for improving the collection and use of economic data related to recreational fishing.

The order also targets what the administration describes as unnecessary regulatory burdens on boaters, anglers, and outdoor businesses. Agencies are directed to begin reviewing regulations that unnecessarily restrict the sector and to consider multi-year permits of at least three years for qualifying operators, with a presumption of renewal for those in good standing.

Another provision seeks to establish a federal program for converting qualifying decommissioned offshore oil and gas structures into artificial reefs. The administration says the initiative could streamline permitting for reef projects while expanding habitat for fish and supporting recreational fishing and diving.

The order also establishes an interagency task force focused on shark and pinniped depredation, which can occur when predators take fish caught by recreational anglers. Officials are directed to develop a real-time reporting system for such incidents and explore measures to address their economic and ecological effects.

The directive builds on Trump's April 2025 executive order, “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness,” as well as the administration's broader efforts to reduce regulatory barriers affecting fishing and coastal industries. It also coordinates certain habitat-restoration efforts with the Make America Beautiful Again Commission.

The order establishes implementation deadlines ranging from 30 to 180 days for various reviews, permitting changes, data initiatives and habitat programs. The White House said the overall policy is intended to modernize fisheries management, expand recreational access, and strengthen the economies of coastal communities