Oversight Hearing | Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee

The House Committee on Natural Resources GOP's Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on June 5, 2025, titled "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness." The hearing focused on challenges facing the U.S. commercial and recreational fishing industries, including regulatory burdens, data collection deficiencies, and international competition. Witnesses highlighted the importance of the Magnuson Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the need for fully funded NOAA fisheries science and enforcement, and the impact of recent budget cuts and staffing reductions at NOAA. Discussions emphasized improving data accuracy through cooperative research, expanding state management programs, addressing illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and supporting coastal communities dependent on fisheries. Several witnesses advocated for legislative and regulatory reforms to reduce burdens, enhance science-based management, and promote fair trade practices to bolster the competitiveness of American seafood. The hearing included multiple references to President Trump's executive order aimed at reducing regulatory burdens and improving seafood competitiveness, as well as concerns about the administration's budget cuts to NOAA and their impact on fisheries management and sustainability.