What’s at Stake
Thriving American fishing and seafood industries are crucial for supporting local and national economies, ensuring food security, and providing employment opportunities for American families. These industries can produce high-quality and sustainably caught domestic seafood primarily because of NOAA Fisheries’ globally-leading science-based management of fisheries and ocean ecosystems.
But U.S. fishermen and their coastal communities face significant challenges:
- Accessing the U.S. consumer market currently dominated by foreign seafood imports
- Lack of reasonable business financing options
- Loss of critical coastal shoreside infrastructure
Now is the time to take steps to ensure America’s seafood economy can support working waterfronts, fishing businesses, and seafood jobs so that more Americans have access to the nutritious protein that is sustainably produced by our commercial fishing communities.
The United States continues to be a major fishing nation with healthy marine ecosystems and well-managed and productive fisheries, thanks to strong maritime laws like the Magnuson-Stevens Act. But the United States is no longer a global leader in seafood production – and that must change. We possess the potential to reclaim that leadership by implementing strategic federal investments in seafood businesses, working waterfronts, scientific research, fisheries management, and market development.
“Our small-boat fishing families in Alaska are committed to producing the highest quality fish for you to feed your family. Expanding our industry’s access to USDA programs, on par with land-based food producers, will put more of the healthiest, most sustainable seafood available onto American dinner plates. We can improve the health of our nation and sustain thousands of community-based American fishing jobs if we work together.” —Linda Behnken, executive director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association
Recommendations
To sustain and foster the success of America’s commercial fishermen and seafood businesses, it is imperative that domestic policy serves to bolster the sustainability of our fisheries and competitiveness of our seafood industry. Doing so will ensure that a greater segment of the American population gains access to the nutritious protein derived from our fishing industry.
Establish an Office of Seafood Policy and Program Integration
America’s seafood businesses need better support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) by establishing a clear pathway for integrating seafood and U.S. seafood producers into USDA programs and operations. An Office of Seafood Policy would play a crucial role in coordinating with other agencies in the seafood supply chain, ensuring that all stakeholders work toward shared seafood objectives in both domestic and global markets.
In coordination with the Department of Commerce, this office would have the following objectives:
- Make USDA grant and loan programs eligible to commercial fishermen, processors, and other supporting businesses.
- Make seafood producers eligible for key USDA financial support programs available to other domestic food producers (e.g. Rural Development Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program and the Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program).
- Expand seafood producers’ eligibility for USDA marketing programs.
Require Country of Origin Labeling for Seafood
Require country of origin labeling to enhance transparency and consumer trust.
Incorporate Buy American Language into Nutrition Program Purchases
Integrate “Buy American” language into nutrition program purchases, including a 5% cap on non-domestic purchases of fish and other seafood.
Open Agricultural Credit Programs (Low-Cost Loans) to Fishing Industry
Facilitate access to low-cost loans through agricultural credit programs for fishing industry businesses, ensuring parity with other food producers in terms of financial support.
