ASU marine conservation biologist critical of Trump administration's commercial fishing expansion

A conservationist at Arizona State University warns that President Donald Trump’s efforts to expand commercial fishing will have devastating consequences for marine life.

A recent executive order removed prohibitions that restricted commercial fishing in certain ocean areas, like the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument.

Writing for the publication The Conversation, ASU marine biologist David Shiffman says commercial fishing is the single greatest threat to the diversity of ocean life.

“Modern industrial scale fishing is not going fishing off of a beach or pier or on a little boat with a rod and reel and catching one thing at a time," he said.

Shiffman says such large-scale activities can cause potential problems, including habitat destruction and the accidental catching of species.

“Everything that lives in the ocean is at risk as a result of not protecting key parts of the ocean. Sea turtles, dolphins, whales, coral reefs, sharks, sea birds, thousands of species of fish, as well as invertebrates," he said.

He says balance between commercial fishing and marine protection was achieved before the Trump administration took action on ocean activities.