BANGOR, Maine (AP) President Donald Trump has taken action to allow commercial fishing in a marine conservation area off the New England coast.

The Northeast Canyons and Seamounts off the New England coast was the first national marine monument in the Atlantic Ocean, and one of just five marine monuments altogether.

The conservation area comprises 5,000 square miles east of Cape Cod that contains vulnerable species of marine life such as right whales and fragile deep sea corals.

According to NOAA, commercial fishing for red crab and American lobster is still permitted in the monument up until 2023, after which it will be prohibited.

Trump used a visit with Maine fishermen on Friday to make the announcement. He also visited Puritan Medical Products in Guilford, which makes specialized swabs used for coronavirus testing.