On the campaign trail, Donald Trump proclaimed his love for America’s fishermen and coastal communities. He’s right to do so considering that the rank-and-file fishermen are part of our new Republican coalition of blue-collar workers that contribute enormously to our economy. While the president continues to do his part to deliver for them, most recently through an Executive Order, it’s growing clearer that the love isn’t reciprocated. So, it’s fair to ask: why isn't commercial fishing doing their part to put America First?
For decades, the elites have pushed policies that favor massive industrial fishing operations, many of which use foreign vessels and foreign labor. Meanwhile, hardworking American fishermen are pushed out of business by overregulation and unfair competition. It’s the same playbook they used with manufacturing – ship the jobs abroad, let foreigners overexploit our resources, and leave Americans holding the empty nets.
First and foremost, fishing is part of our American culture and is an important driver of our local economies. Across New England and the Gulf of America, the docks and ports are the center of town that drives commerce and chisels a unique identity. However, today’s fishing industry isn’t like that of 1980’s anymore; the sector has morphed significantly over the past several decades as corporatism has taken over many of the smaller operators. Like the rest of the economy where big business has replaced local ones on Main Street, big seafood businesses have replaced smaller players.
As one advocacy organization for fishermen noted, consolidation and government policies have become a major concern for small operators. They state that large corporate interests are pushing out smaller-scale, more traditional fishermen – ultimately reducing their ability to catch fish and put food on the table. President Trump campaigned on rebalancing corporate and working class interests, and the consolidation in this industry is in dire need of adjustments.
At the same time, big commercial fishing is prioritizing foreign workers over American citizens. It’s no secret that immigration was one of the reasons President Trump was reelected. Americans were tired of mass migration coming in and contributing to a labor surplus that can lead to lower wages in the industry. Today, more than 14 percent of commercial fishing workers are foreign-born and directly taking jobs away from those that have a desire to work on the sea. Here on land, an astonishing 62 percent of seafood processing are foreign born, according to the New American Economy Research Foundation. The seafood supply chain is dependent on foreign labor and it's not a secret.
It’s also important to note that President Trump has vowed to protect America’s whale populations. It’s an important goal, and he should start by examining the big fishing industry, which causes marine life to beach or become seriously injured at sea. In fact, NOAA Fisheries estimates that over 85 percent of right whales have been entangled in fishing gear at least once in their life. The U.S. has laws in place to reduce bycatch and protect marine mammals, but these laws have not been effectively enforced, allowing tens of thousands of marine mammals to die each year beyond the legal limits. The failure to enforce bycatch standards harms marine ecosystems and puts U.S. fisheries at a disadvantage, creating an unsustainable and inequitable global fishing market.
At a more fundamental level we need to ensure that America’s fishing resources are sustainable over the long term. With so many fisheries threatened, we need to ensure that there are rules in place so recreational or small-scale fishing can remain. Otherwise, we’ll have a tragedy of the commons that benefits no one and puts even more financial pressure on small coastal communities.
President Trump always stood for the American worker. If we want to keep America great, we need to bring that same spirit to our oceans. That means giving foreign interests the boot, breaking up the monopolies in big fishing, and putting Americans back in charge of America’s resources.
Jared Whitley has worked in the US Senate and White House. He has an MBA from Hult business school in Dubai. Recently the Top of the Rockies competition named him the best columnist in the Intermountain West.
Read Full Article »