New Poll: Voters Want President Trump to Outlaw Industrial Fishing Practices That Harm American Fishermen
The Forage Fish Campaign released national polling showing broad bipartisan support for ending industrial-scale reduction fishing. In the interest of full transparency, the topline survey data and memo summary are below, with full documentation available for download.
Memorandum
To: Interested Parties
From: Tony Fabrizio and Bob Ward
Date: February 9, 2026
Re: Voters want President Trump to outlaw specific industrial fishing practices in U.S. waters
Fabrizio Ward recently polled 1,000 registered voters nationally on the issue of industrial reduction and midwater trawling fishing and oversampled up to 600 registered voters in states along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts from Maryland down to Florida and around to Texas where the issue is most impactful.
Bottom Line
Voters know fishing is an important part of coastal economies and do not want foreign-controlled corporations disrupting our ecosystems and hurting American fishermen. They support action to outlaw the practices of industrial reduction fishing and industrial midwater trawling of forage fish in U.S. waters. A clear majority supports President Trump doing this through an Executive Order, with backing highest from Trump voters.
Fishing is a Key to Coastal Economies & Foreign Industrial Fishing Disrupts Our Environment
There is strong agreement that recreational and commercial fishing industries are important parts of the economy for coastal states in the U.S. with voters nationally agreeing 86% - 5% (+81) and those in the coastal states impacted on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts agreeing 87% - 3% (+84). By very wide margins, voters also agree recreational and commercial fishing jobs for American fishermen should be protected against foreign corporations fishing in U.S. waters (+81 national; +80 coastal states). Trump voters agree with both by even wider margins than voters nationally. Three quarters of voters in both the nationwide and coastal state survey also agree that the removal of forage fish through industrial fishing by foreign-controlled corporations disrupts the ocean's ecology and food chain.
Voters Support Federal Action Outlawing by a 3:1 Margin
Nationally, voters support federal action outlawing the practices of industrial reduction fishing and industrial midwater trawling of forage fish in U.S. waters, 61% - 20% (+41). In the key coastal states impacted, support is solid at 62% - 18% (+44). This issue has appeal across the political spectrum: Trump voters support it by 40-points, Harris voters by 48-points, and Swing voters — those voters who split their tickets and decide elections — by 30-points.
A Trump Executive Order is Backed by a Majority; Support Jumps Among Trump Voters
When asked more specifically if they support or oppose President Trump issuing an Executive Order outlawing these practices, voters nationally support him 53% - 29% (+24) and by a wider margin, 58% - 24% (+34) in the impacted coastal states. Trump voters would support him issuing the EO by 60-points. Harris voters, many of whom are allergic to supporting President Trump on anything, flip to opposing by 10-points, though 35% are in support of a Trump Executive Order.
Facts About Industrial Fishing Are Convincing Reasons for Trump to Issue EO
Voters heard five facts about industrial reduction and midwater trawl fishing on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, and each was rated by large majorities as convincing reasons to support an Executive Order outlawing these practices in U.S. waters.
The two strongest statements were focused on jobs/economic impact and environmental damage:
"The commercial and recreational fishing industries in the U.S. support 2.3 million American jobs and generate over $300 billion annually in economic impact. We need to protect this industry from the industrial fishing of forage fish that put the entire fish ecosystem at risk." — 78% Total Convincing / 45% Very Convincing
"Not only does industrial fishing disrupt industry and jobs, it is devastating to the environment. Industrial fishing vessels unintentionally catch sea turtles, seals, dolphins, gamefish, and commercially valuable species like cod in addition to the forage fish they are intending to catch. Studies have linked the over-harvest of forage fish to striped bass population declines and the starvation of osprey chicks." — 75% Total Convincing / 46% Very Convincing
Learning More About the Issue Boosts Support for President Trump's Action
Nationally, after hearing the facts on the issue, voters support President Trump issuing the Executive Order 62% - 23% (+39), up from +24 initially. In the Coastal states, support is 63% - 21% (+42), up from +34. There are sizable increases in support across the political spectrum with Trump voters backing him issuing an Executive Order, 80% - 7% (+73), up a net 13-points, and Swing voters in support 57% - 21% (+36), up a net 21-points.
Methodology
Fabrizio Ward conducted a survey February 2–4, 2026 of 1,000 registered voters nationally with an oversample up to 600 registered voters in Coastal states (MD, VA, NC, SC, GA, FL, AL, MS, LA, TX) conducted February 5–7, 2026. Quotas were set by region, age, gender, partisan affiliation, education, and race/ethnicity for the overall, with quotas by state for the oversample. Data was weighted by region, age, gender, recalled 2024 vote, education, and race/ethnicity for both surveys. Margin of sampling error for n1,000 is ±3.1% at the 95% confidence level and for n600 is ±4.0% at the 95% confidence level. The interviews were conducted via cell phones (40%), landlines (15%), and SMS-to-Web (45%) to voters sampled from the voter file.
Survey Topline Results
MAFA National Voter Survey & Target State
OversampleUniverse: Registered Voters Nationally (RV); Coastal State Oversample (OS)
Sample Size: 1,000 Registered Voters m.o.e. ±3.1 | Oversample to n600 in Atlantic and Gulf Coastal states m.o.e. ±4
Field Dates: February 1–7, 2026
Interview Mode: 40% Cell, 15% Landline, 45% SMS-to-Web
Q9. Generic Congressional Ballot(If election for Congress held today, would you vote Republican or Democrat?)
Total Democrat: 46% (RV) / 43% (OS)
Total Republican: 42% (RV) / 44% (OS)
Definitely Democrat: 37% (RV) / 34% (OS)
Probably Democrat: 10% (RV) / 9% (OS)
Probably Republican: 10% (RV) / 12% (OS)
Definitely Republican: 32% (RV) / 32% (OS)
Unsure: 12% (RV) / 13% (OS)
Q10–13. Attitudes Toward Forage Fish & Fishing Industry
(Agree/Disagree — % shown)
Industrial fishing for forage fish in U.S. waters should be outlawed.
Total Agree: 42% (RV) / 44% (OS)
Total Disagree: 32% (RV) / 32% (OS)
The recreational and commercial fishing industries are an important part of the economy of coastal states in the U.S.
Total Agree: 86% (RV) / 87% (OS)
Total Disagree: 5% (RV) / 3% (OS)
The annual removal of billions of forage fish through industrial fishing by foreign-controlled corporations in U.S. waters disrupts the ocean's ecology and food chain.
Total Agree: 74% (RV) / 74% (OS)
Total Disagree: 10% (RV) / 10% (OS)
Recreational and commercial fishing jobs for American fishermen should be protected against foreign corporations fishing in U.S. waters.
Total Agree: 86% (RV) / 85% (OS)
Total Disagree: 5% (RV) / 5% (OS)
Q14. Support for Federal Action Outlawing Industrial Reduction Fishing & Midwater Trawling
(Do you support or oppose federal action outlawing these practices in U.S. waters?)
Total Support: 61% (RV) / 62% (OS)
Total Oppose: 20% (RV) / 18% (OS)
Strongly support: 33% (RV) / 35% (OS)
Somewhat support: 27% (RV) / 26% (OS)
Somewhat oppose: 11% (RV) / 10% (OS)
Strongly oppose: 9% (RV) / 8% (OS)
Not sure: 20% (RV) / 20% (OS)
Q15. Support for a Trump Executive Order (Initial)
(Do you support or oppose President Trump issuing an executive order outlawing these practices in all U.S. waters?)
Total Support: 53% (RV) / 58% (OS)
Total Oppose: 29% (RV) / 24% (OS)
Strongly support: 30% (RV) / 33% (OS)
Somewhat support: 23% (RV) / 25% (OS)
Somewhat oppose: 11% (RV) / 9% (OS)
Strongly oppose: 18% (RV) / 16% (OS)
Not sure: 18% (RV) / 18% (OS)
Q16–20. How Convincing Are These Facts in Supporting an Executive Order?
(% Total Convincing / % Very Convincing)
"The commercial and recreational fishing industries support 2.3 million American jobs and generate over $300 billion annually. We need to protect this industry from industrial fishing of forage fish."
Total Convincing: 78% (RV) / 75% (OS)
Very Convincing: 45% (RV) / 44% (OS)
"Industrial fishing is devastating to the environment — vessels unintentionally catch sea turtles, seals, dolphins, and cod. Studies link forage fish over-harvest to striped bass declines and osprey chick starvation."
Total Convincing: 75% (RV) / 71% (OS)
Very Convincing: 46% (RV) / 45% (OS)
"Industrial fishing is putting American fishermen out of business, while some companies received federal disaster aid grants after collapsing their own fisheries — meaning taxpayers foot the bill."
Total Convincing: 70% (RV) / 67% (OS)
Very Convincing: 38% (RV) / 36% (OS)
"Most coastal states have already banned industrial fishing of forage fish. Federal action through an executive order will protect the marine ecosystem in line with the wishes of the vast majority of states, both Red and Blue."
Total Convincing: 69% (RV) / 69% (OS)
Very Convincing: 35% (RV) / 36% (OS)
"Massive Canadian and South African corporations are exploiting U.S. waters at the expense of American fishermen."
Total Convincing: 63% (RV) / 59% (OS)
Very Convincing: 31% (RV) / 31% (OS)
Q21. Support for a Trump Executive Order (After Hearing Facts)
(Having heard more, do you support or oppose President Trump issuing an executive order?)
Total Support: 62% (RV) / 63% (OS)
Total Oppose: 23% (RV) / 21% (OS)
Strongly support: 39% (RV) / 39% (OS)
Somewhat support: 23% (RV) / 24% (OS)
Somewhat oppose: 8% (RV) / 7% (OS)
Strongly oppose: 15% (RV) / 15% (OS)
Not sure: 15% (RV) / 15% (OS)
Q22. Do you personally fish on a recreational basis?
Yes: 37% (RV) / 36% (OS)
No: 63% (RV) / 63% (OS)
Survey conducted by Fabrizio Ward, February 1–7, 2026. Full methodology available above.