EPA loosens restrictions on lobster boat diesel engines

Tim Dunn, Boston Herald on Jul 22, 2026

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The Environmental Protection Agency is announcing a new exemption that the Trump administration says will loosen environmental regulations on diesel engines for U.S. commercial lobstermen.

The EPA is exempting a new lobster boat model from Tier 4 engine requirements, which were adopted in 2008. It’s something the federal agency says will, for the first time, support American boat builders, lobstermen, and the New England maritime communities.

“The commercial fishing industry is an important part of New England’s heritage and economy, and we’re committed to practical implementation of environmental regulations. This decision demonstrates that in the Trump administration, environmental protection and economic opportunity can go hand in hand,” EPA Regional Administrator Mark Sanborn told the Herald over the phone.

“The exemption to the Tier 4 requirement allows both designers and law enforcement to utilize Tier 3 engines, which better meet their needs. The exhaust engine must meet Tier 3 emission standards and be labeled so it cannot be used on other vessels,” he said.

The exemption is expected to result in a positive outcome for lobstermen, whose boats face unique challenges compared to other fishing vessels, including the necessity of larger holding tanks, different cargo designs and more.

Since the adoption of Tier 4 requirements, the EPA says the needs of lobstermen have changed, most notably vessels requiring more engine power to reach lobster populations.

“The Tier 3 engines allow the industry to reach the lobster populations they need to, allows them to fish in those waters, and, the Tier 4 engines wouldn’t have allowed it. So, the waiver more allows the industry to utilize the engines that meet their needs and doesn’t require them to switch out to engines that don’t meet those needs, Sanborn added.

The EPA says it is backdating the Tier 4 relief beginning to 2024.

It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to cut red tape for the larger U.S. commercial fishing industry, most recently reopening a large swath of Georges Bank to commercial scalloping after the area had been closed for decades.

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