Saving Seafood

Secretary of Commerce allocates $300 million in CARES Act aid to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries impacted by COVID-19

May 7, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA:

Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross announced the allocation of $300 million in economic relief to U.S. fishermen and seafood industries affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The funds were allocated as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), signed into law on March 27 by President Trump.

Commercial fishing, charter/for-hire businesses, qualified aquaculture operations, processors, and parts of the seafood sector in coastal states and territories are among those eligible to apply for funds. Tribes are also eligible for funding including for any negative impacts to subsistence, cultural, or ceremonial fisheries. The Department of Commerce’s National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) will work with the three Interstate Marine Fishery Commissions, organizations with a demonstrated track record of success in disbursing funds, to quickly deliver financial assistance into the hands of those who need it.

“This relief package will support America’s fishermen and our seafood sector’s recovery,” said U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross. “Thank you President Trump, Secretary Mnuchin, and our Congressional leaders of both parties for your work to pass the historic legislation that is bringing much needed relief to America’s fishermen. This Administration stands with the men and women working to provide healthy and safe seafood during this uniquely challenging time, while our U.S. fisheries work to continue to support 1.7 million jobs and to generate $200 billion in annual sales. The Nation is grateful to our fishermen for their commitment.”

Acting NOAA Administrator Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., lauded today’s announcement.

“For generations, our coastal communities have taken great pride in delivering protein-rich seafood to dinner tables across the country and enabling access to our world class recreational fisheries,” said Jacobs. “NOAA thanks our partners in the interstate marine fisheries commissions, states, territories, and Tribes for their assistance. Together, we will work to distribute these funds as quickly as possible.”

In addition to these funds, the President recently signed into law other Federal financial assistance programs, including at the Small Business Administration and U.S. Department of Agriculture, that can provide help to fishermen and related businesses.

Industries can find additional NOAA financial assistance information on our website.

Consumers Remain Skeptical but Hopeful as States Begin to Reopen

May 7, 2020 — Now that states are beginning to reopen non-essential businesses, consumers are once again expressing feelings of excitement, fear, and uncertainty. Often, these feelings are informed by their view on how the health crisis compares to the economic one. According to a recent report by Datassential, restaurants can still find ways to address that tension through service and outreach that emphasizes community building.

The data shows that concern about the coronavirus has plateaued. With cases still growing in some locations and no major breakthroughs have been made on the testing front, almost 60% of Americans are “very worried” about their own personal health. However, this percentage has remained about steady for the past three weeks, with a decrease of 7% from the beginning of April.

Read the full story at Seafood News

Louisiana lawmaker, others seek federal aid for U.S. seafood industry

May 7, 2020 — Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-La., has joined a bipartisan group of 25 lawmakers in pushing for federal aid for fishermen and seafood processors hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic.

The lawmakers sent a letter today to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer asking that upcoming coronavirus relief legislation include money and other support for the industry.

“Our seafood processors and fishermen have been dealt a significant economic blow as a result of coronavirus and are in desperate need of federal assistance,” the senators wrote. “It has been reported that many of the nation’s fisheries have suffered sales declines as high as 95 percent. In addition, while many other agricultural sectors have seen a significant increase in grocery sales, seafood has been left out of that economic upside, as stores have cut back on offerings.”

Read the full story at Houma Today

NFI Statement on The President’s Executive Order Regarding U.S. Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth

May 7, 2020 — The following was released by the National Fisheries Institute:

Today President Trump highlighted the importance of the U.S. seafood community to America’s economy, heritage, and future. By issuing an Executive Order that recognizes the benefits of American seafood trade and promotes the vital role it plays in the industry’s recovery, he underscored the significance of delicious, high quality U.S. seafood exports.

Continuing work to open essential markets, like the EU to our shellfish or Japan for our Alaska pollock, will help regain the seafood community’s financial footing and grow an industry eager to expand.
 
The President’s order also recognized the importance of enforcing rules that ensure wild caught seafood is legally harvested. Enforcement of such ideas is a shared international responsibility. The U.S. has led the way globally as early adopters of the Port State Measures Agreement, the binding international agreement targeting illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. With today’s order, the White House shows a continued commitment to stamping out practices that disadvantage Americans who legally work the water.
 
What’s more, the order calls for a renewed focus on permitting for U.S. aquaculture facilities that is both effective and efficient. This demonstrates a clear understanding that safe, authorized aquaculture can have a lasting impact that is not only beneficial to the viability of wild capture stocks but to the economic sustainability of the entire seafood community.
 
The U.S. seafood community includes more than 1.7 million men and women and $145 billion in sales. Right now family-owned companies in remote coastal towns and large inland cities that catch, portion, ship and serve seafood are suffering. We applaud the President for acknowledging this important sector and the American workers it supports. We thank him for recognizing the needs identified in today’s order and encourage him to continue to remember the entire seafood value chain, including processors and distributors, during America’s recovery.

Observer Waiver Expires for Southeast, Gulf of Mexico Fisheries

May 7, 2020 — The National Marine Fisheries Service notified permit holders and the public Tuesday that a waiver for observer coverage in some fisheries expired at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 4, 2020. As of 12 a.m. Tuesday, May 5, observer coverage was reinstated for those fisheries.

Those permitted fisheries include:

  • South Atlantic Penaeid Shrimp;
  • South Atlantic Rock Shrimp;
  • South Atlantic Snapper-Grouper;
  • Southeast Gillnet;
  • Gulf of Mexico Commercial Reef Fish;
  • Gulf of Mexico Shrimp;
  • Atlantic Highly Migratory Species (HMS) Pelagic Longline
  • Shark Bottom Longline (Atlantic HMS); and
  • Shark Gillnet (Atlantic HMS)

Read the full story at Seafood News

Trump issues executive order promoting US seafood; Stimulus funding released

May 7, 2020 — The administration of U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a new executive order intended to enhance the competitiveness of the seafood industry.

Additionally, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce has announced state-by-state amounts for allocation of the USD 300 million (EUR 277 million) in fisheries assistance funding provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act).

Read the full story at Seafood Source

$28M in aid headed to Massachusetts fisheries

May 7, 2020 — The Massachusetts seafood industry is set to receive $28 million of the $300 million in federal fisheries assistance — the highest amount of any state after Alaska and Washington, NOAA Fisheries told federal legislators Thursday in an email obtained by the Gloucester Daily Times.

The federal funds, which were part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security or CARES Act, are to be used to “address direct or indirect fishery-related losses, as well as subsistence, cultural or ceremonial impacts related to COVID-19.”

It remains unclear how the money will be distributed. The announcement also did not include specific eligibility requirements for receiving the assistance.

In general, fishery participants eligible to apply for the funding include tribes, commercial fishing businesses, charter and for-hire fishing businesses, qualified aquacultural operations, processors and other fishery-related businesses.

Read the full story at the Gloucester Daily Times

Omega Protein anticipates few COVID-19 impacts to Virginia’s menhaden season

May 7, 2020 — Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic’s widespread impact on the U.S. seafood industry, Reedville, Virginia-based Omega Protein is expecting to have relatively few impacts to the menhaden fishery.

Omega Protein, a division of Blacks Harbour, New Brunswick, Canada-based Cooke Inc., is by-far the largest fisher of menhaden in the U.S. – catching tens of thousands of tons of the species each year. Primarily used for reduction purposes, the species has avoided the economic hardships of premium seafood species, according to Ben Landry, director of public affairs for Omega Protein.

Read the full story at Seafood Source