The Biden years may have left America’s seafood industry battered by overregulation, but a new executive order from President Donald Trump hopes to reverse course, and Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller is calling on Texans to make their voices heard.
Trump’s “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness” order, published in April, directs the Department of Commerce to roll back its “burdensome” regulations, update outdated data on American fisheries, and crack down on cheap imports that have undercut the country’s seafood producers.
According to the order, nearly 90% of seafood on American shelves now comes from overseas.
“The United States should be the world’s dominant seafood leader. But in addition to overregulation, unfair trade practices have put our seafood markets at a competitive disadvantage. Nearly 90 percent of the seafood on our shelves is now imported, and the seafood trade deficit exceeds $20 billion. The erosion of American seafood competitiveness at the hands of unfair foreign trade practices must end,” the Executive Order reads.
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Miller revisited some of those concerns earlier this month, stressing in a recent statement that Texas seafood producers have been pushed to the brink.
“Our Texas seafood industry is on life support. When government stands between producers and their livelihoods, that’s a problem. That’s why this moment matters,” said Commissioner Miller.
Trump’s order lays out an ambitious plan to help the seafood industry, calling for an “America First Seafood Strategy” to help boost marketing and exports. The President’s order also aims to stop or curb illegal and unsafe imports, especially from foreign companies that practice illegal labor laws.
This isn’t the first time Trump has pushed to protect and revitalize the industry.
As previously reported by The Dallas Express, Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on Indian shrimp imports was hailed as a lifeline for struggling Gulf Coast shrimpers, with Texas Rep. Troy Nehls praising the move as long-overdue protection against foreign dumping and global subsidies. The tariff, which took effect officially on August 1, builds upon earlier duties on shrimp from Indonesia and Vietnam, targeting countries that together supply nearly two-thirds of America’s shrimp imports.
Now, the Texas Department of Agriculture has announced the agency will submit formal comments to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) Fisheries agency.
Miller stressed the importance of hearing the direct input of everyday Americans as well. In Miller’s statement, he announced that the TDA and NOAA have teamed up to solicit feedback from the public on how to boost the seafood industry and protect its future nationwide.
“I encourage everyone, especially those in the seafood industry, to take advantage of this opportunity and submit their comments now. Don’t wait; the deadline is just around the corner. We can’t miss this chance to influence the future of the industry,” Miller added.
Public comments are open until October 14, 2025, at 10:59 p.m. CDT.