Saving Seafood

Immigration, trade policies, rising operational costs among top pressures affecting US restaurants in 2026

March 2, 2026 — Shifting trade and immigration policies, as well as rising operational costs such as labor, food, insurance, and energy, are among the top pressure points facing the U.S. restaurant industry this year.

According to the National Restaurant Association’s (NRA) “State of the Restaurant Industry 2026” report, this marks a continuation of issues faced in 2025, as 42 percent of operators said their restaurants were not profitable last year. More than 90 percent of operators cited food, labor, insurance, energy, and swipe fees as significant challenges.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

American seafood is national security — and Washington is failing fishermen

February 10, 2026 — I have spent my life working on the water as a commercial fisherman. Today, I serve as the chairman and chief strategist of the New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association, (NEFSA) representing fishermen who fish the waters of the North Atlantic and the New York Bight, along with their families, business and industry associations and members of the public who support wild-caught American seafood. I speak for people who work these waters every day and for communities that depend on them.

We see ocean conditions as they exist, not months later in reports. Yet policy too often prioritizes theory over experience and paperwork over outcomes. Commercial fishermen are not line items. We live with the consequences of every decision made in Washington. On the water, those decisions can make fishing less safe, manage fish poorly and drive American commercial fishermen out of business.

AMERICAN SEAFOOD IS AMERICAN FOOD SECURITY

n 2026, it is time to clearly recognize that U.S. wild-caught seafood is U.S. food security. America controls one of the largest and most productive ocean food resources in the world, and commercial fishermen make it possible to feed this country under some of the highest standards anywhere.

At the same time, we are forced to compete against cheap imported seafood flooding U.S. markets and undercutting American harvesters. Much of this product comes from overseas operations with weak or nonexistent environmental and labor standards, yet it is marketed as fresh or sustainable. Meanwhile, American fishermen following the rules are slowly being pushed out.

American farmers know this problem well. Domestic food producers who follow strict regulations are routinely undercut by imports that do not. Commercial fishermen, like farmers, are a pillar of national resilience. Any new food policy must rebuild and protect domestic seafood production, so American fishermen can feed American consumers under American standards.

Read the full article at Fox News

US senator introduces new seafood-labeling legislation

October 30, 2025 — U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi) has introduced a bill that, if passed, would require all seafood sold in the country to have a large label identifying the country of origin and method of production.

The Let Americans Buy with Explicit Labeling (LABEL) Act would require country of origin and production information to be printed on seafood packaging and displayed “in a font size at least as large as the product name.” According to Hyde-Smith, some of the information printed on imported seafood products are too small, preventing American consumers from differentiating between domestic and foreign seafood.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US military audit finds Navy, Marines not properly implementing domestic seafood purchasing requirements

September 29, 2025 — An audit of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has revealed that the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps are not including language requiring the purchase of domestic seafood nor blocking the purchase of any food that involves forced or child labor in their procurement contracts.

“The DoD Office of the Inspector General [OIG] found that contracting personnel for the U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy Force failed to include the required clauses in three of eight contracts to restrict purchases from foreign sources and those involving forced or child labor. This lack of oversight means the Marine Corps and Navy cannot ensure full compliance with federal guidelines in seafood procurements,” the OIG said in its announcement.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US House passes military funding bill eliminating Buy American exceptions for seafood

September 15, 2025 — A last-minute amendment to the U.S. House version of the annual defense funding legislation would eliminate any exceptions for seafood from the government’s usual “Buy American” provisions.

Under the Berry Amendment, the federal government is required to purchase American-made products, although exceptions can be made for select products and those for which the government determines a U.S. produced good is unavailable. However, a provision added by U.S. Representative Nancy Mace (R-South Carolina) would ensure exceptions cannot be issued for seafood, fish, or shellfish purchases.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

NOAA Fisheries Bolsters American Seafood Industry with New Import Provisions

August 29, 2025 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:

On August 28, 2025, NOAA Fisheries announced robust comparability findings under Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) import provisions, reinforcing America’s leadership in sustainable seafood production. The agency issued full comparability findings for 89 nations and partial comparability findings for 34 nations’ fisheries, and denied comparability for 12 nations’ fisheries. In total, fisheries from 46 nations now face stringent import restrictions, ensuring that seafood entering U.S. markets adhere to the same high standards as American-caught seafood.

The United States is a global leader in marine mammal conservation and sustainable fisheries, with American fishermen adhering to world-class conservation practices that minimize marine mammal bycatch. These import provisions align with President Trump’s executive order to restore American seafood competitiveness, protect American jobs, and ensure fair trade practices that prioritize the domestic market. By holding foreign fisheries to the same rigorous standards, NOAA Fisheries is safeguarding the integrity of American seafood while creating a level playing field for U.S. fishermen.

Importing Foreign Seafood

Starting January 1, 2026, fish and fish products from foreign fisheries on NOAA’s List of Foreign Fisheries without a comparability finding will be barred from U.S. markets. The list categorizes all foreign commercial fisheries that export to the United States as either:

  • Exempt: Minimal or no marine mammal bycatch
  • Export: Higher risk of marine mammal bycatch or insufficient data

“The import provisions guarantee that foreign fisheries meet the gold standard that is set by American fishermen,” said Eugenio Piñeiro Soler, acting assistant secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA Fisheries assistant administrator. “This is a major win for American workers, consumers, and our marine ecosystems. By enforcing these standards, we’re protecting our domestic seafood industry and ensuring only safe, sustainable seafood reaches American tables.”

Prioritizing American Standards

Bycatch, the incidental capture of non-target species like marine mammals, remains a global challenge. American fishermen lead the world in bycatch mitigation, employing advanced technologies and practices. The MMPA import provisions extend these high standards to foreign fisheries, requiring them to demonstrate effective bycatch management in line with U.S. standards to access American markets. This ensures that American consumers enjoy seafood that is sustainably sourced, while supporting the livelihoods of U.S. fishermen.

What is a comparability finding?

A comparability finding is a determination by NOAA Fisheries that a foreign export or exempt fishery has met applicable conditions to ensure the safety of marine mammals during commercial fishing. To receive a comparability finding, a harvesting nation must demonstrate that it:

  1. Prohibits the intentional mortality or serious injury of marine mammals in the course of commercial fishing operations in the fishery; or
  2. Demonstrates that it has procedures to reliably certify that exports of fish and fish products to the United States are not the product of an intentional killing or serious injury of a marine mammal.

For export fisheries, foreign nations must also maintain a regulatory program for incidental mortality and serious injury of marine mammals that matches the effectiveness of U.S. regulations. Countries must reapply for a comparability finding every four years to maintain their eligibility to export to the United States. Fisheries that were initially denied a comparability finding may bring new or updated information and reapply for a comparability finding after January 1, 2026.

Boosting American Fisheries and Global Standards

NOAA Fisheries is committed to advancing global sustainability by collaborating with regional fishery management organizations and promoting safe fishing technologies worldwide. These actions promote the excellence of American commercial fisheries and standards across the globe. By enforcing these import restrictions, NOAA Fisheries is championing U.S. fishermen, ensuring fair competition, and delivering safe, high-quality seafood to American consumers.

Learn more about marine mammal bycatch criteria for U.S. imports.

Lawmakers and experts question Trump’s plan to make American seafood competitive during hearing

June 5, 2025 — During a Republican-led hearing touting U.S. President Donald Trump’s executive order on restoring American seafood competitiveness, Democrats and assembled witnesses questioned whether the administration’s actions align with its stated purpose.

“I hope to work with the administration and my colleagues and the majority to achieve that goal, but I don’t see how the administration is going to succeed when it spent the last four months haphazardly cutting the funding and workers that our fisheries rely on,” U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) said during a House Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Subcommittee hearing title “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

University study finds US could become independent of seafood imports

August 16, 2024 — A study recently published in the academic journal Ocean Sustainability has found that the U.S. is capable of achieving seafood independence and could shift away from its current reliance on imports.

The study, “Seafood independence is within reach: A multi-scale assessment of seafood self-reliance in the United States,” examined the country’s seafood supply chain and consumption habits over a span of 50 years. It found that despite the U.S. being the second-largest importer of seafood by volume in the world, the country is capable of becoming fully independent of imports.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

More safe, sustainable seafood for America, by Eric Schwaab and Mary Sue Milliken

December 28, 2022 — There’s a culinary revolution happening in the United States. More than ever before, Americans expect their meals to not only be delicious, but sustainable and local too. They’re increasingly turning to seafood options as a nutritious and more environmentally friendly source of protein. While restaurants and markets that can meet this demand are reaping the benefits, more supply is needed.

Currently, up to 85% of American seafood is imported, and it is estimated that half of that is farmed — often in ways that may not live up to our health or environmental standards. Meanwhile, a 2021 poll showed that 70% of American seafood consumers are concerned about where their seafood comes from and nearly 90% of U.S. voters prioritize increasing regulations and setting high standards to ensure seafood is truly sustainable. Notably, this includes 92% of Democrats and 86% of Republicans. Leaders looking for bipartisan priorities need look no further than their next meal.

Read the full article at The Press of Atlantic City

US holiday retail seafood sales outlook bright

December 21, 2022 — Analysts and retailers are maintaining a positive outlook for U.S. retail seafood sales this holiday season, despite inflation pushing down fresh and frozen sales in 2022.

Because Covid-19 restrictions are not in place – as they were during the previous two holiday seasons – analysts are predicting more social and family gatherings will occur. And with that, there’s hope Americans will continue their tradition of spending more on food – and seafood – during the holiday season.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource