[September 18, 2026] Today, the Southeastern Legal Foundation (SLF) applauded President Trump’s Executive Order, “Restoring American Saltwater Angling and Recreation.” The Order pushes for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to move quickly on multiple revisions including the Obama-era vessel speed rule.

SLF previously filed a petition and a public comment on behalf of multiple boat captains and owners to NOAA to revise the highly restrictive and unlawful regulation. The vessel speed rule was enforced in the name of protecting endangered whales but proved to be highly restrictive, forcing boaters to travel under the speed of a golf cart, with violations of the rule being potential jail time and $20,000 fines.

SLF President Kim Hermann said, “We are extremely grateful to President Trump for this Executive Order that will help to finally get rid of this burdensome boating rule. Make no mistake, while the rule may have been created with the intention of saving whales, all it did was help to cripple the boating industry and most shamefully put the livelihood of fishermen and boaters at risk. The fact of the matter is that traveling at the speed of a golf cart does not save whales, it is just a gross overreach from NOAA that puts high stress and pressure on boaters. It’s time to get rid of this rule once and for all and to do as President Trump recently stated, ‘enjoy the open ocean’.”

Download press release.