Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument: Impacts on Commercial Fishing

An analysis of impacts on the fishing industry following the designation of the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts National Monument finds no substantiated commercial fishing losses as a result. The monument’s deep and rugged canyon and seamount areas were historically some of the least fished in the U.S. Atlantic and not unusually important for any fishery. In fact, the monument may ultimately enhance regional fisheries, as protected areas elsewhere have been shown to increase catch of species such as lobster in adjacent areas.