In July, the Trump administration shifted its focus from environmental protection to economic interests, prioritizing the use of ocean resources over the survival of endangered species like leatherback turtles, sea lions, and whales. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a federal agency responsible for oceanic and atmospheric research, announced new priorities aimed at "cutting bureaucracy, modernizing our science, and putting our fishing communities first." These changes are part of a broader strategy to implement President Donald Trump’s "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness" executive order, signed in April 2025. The plan outlines a new approach to managing marine resources, emphasizing economic growth over ecological preservation. Under the proposed measures, NOAA plans to open marine national monuments—protected areas of the ocean—to commercial fishing. It also seeks to reduce the size of critical habitats designated to protect endangered species, with an emphasis on the economic aspects of conservation. Additionally, the agency is looking to diminish the influence of decades of peer-reviewed scientific research in its decision-making process. Critics argue that these steps could lead to the overharvesting of fish stocks, threaten the survival of marine species, and expose fragile habitats to damaging trawling practices that drag large nets across the ocean floor. Earlier this summer, NOAA sent letters to regional fisheries councils, instructing them to remove existing restrictions and adopt more lenient fishing practices that prioritize economic benefits. These changes have raised concerns among environmental experts and conservationists. Andrea Treece, a senior attorney in the Oceans Program at Earthjustice, criticized the plan in an email to Inside Climate News, saying it would "look a lot like a plan to reduce marine ecosystems and harm coastal communities." She described NOAA’s shift as a "sharp turn away from science" and called it "inexcusable" for the administration to make it easier to destroy marine habitats and drive endangered species toward extinction for short-term financial gain. Treece emphasized that removing parts of the ecosystem without considering the broader consequences could undermine the very systems that support coastal communities. She warned that such actions could lead to long-term environmental and economic harm, as the health of marine ecosystems is closely linked to the sustainability of fishing industries and the livelihoods of those who depend on them. The debate over how to balance economic interests with environmental protection continues to be a contentious issue in marine policy discussions.