Trump's freeze disrupts U.S. East Coast fishing industry

President Donald Trump's regulatory freeze is causing significant problems in the U.S. fishing industry. This freeze has created chaos and uncertainty for fishermen, especially along the East Coast. The delay in new regulations has raised concerns about the fishing season for cod and haddock. Fishermen worry that they may not be able to start on time. Additionally, the freeze has led to overfishing of the Atlantic bluefin tuna off North Carolina. The fishing industry, valued at $320 billion, relies on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to set rules and quotas for fishing. NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service is responsible for managing these fisheries under a law from 1976. This includes determining when fishing seasons begin and end. Since Trump's freeze started on January 20, meetings that would normally discuss these important regulations have been delayed. This has caused confusion over the fishing rules needed for the upcoming season.