Saving Seafood

US Senate bill would create a seafood industry liaison within USDA

July 14, 2025 — The U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations has approved legislation that would create a new seafood industry liaison position within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

On 10 July, senators on the committee voted unanimously in favor of the 2026 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, which provides annual funding and guidance for the USDA and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The legislation included several seafood and aquaculture appropriations, most notably establishing a new seafood representative within the USDA.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ALASKA: Gulf fishermen wary of Congressional intrusion into council process

April 7, 2016 — Gulf of Alaska fishermen suspect that Washington, D.C., politics might come into play for fisheries regulations they want left to the North Pacific Fishery Management Council.

A letter circulated by the Alaska Marine Conservation Council and signed by 250 Gulf of Alaska fishermen and residents was sent to each of Alaska’s three congressional delegation members.

The letter asks that the Alaska’s representatives in the nation’s capital oppose any legislation intended to press Gulf of Alaska fisheries regulations.

“Specifically, we request our Alaska delegation to support development of a Gulf of Alaska Trawl Bycatch Management Program (aka catch share) in the Council process so all stakeholders may contribute to a transparent process,” the letter asks.

“Please do not support any attempt to circumvent the council process through legislation in Washington, D.C., as that would effectively preclude Alaskan coastal communities and stakeholders from having a direct voice in the process.”

During ComFish, an annual Kodiak commercial fisheries booster event, Stephen Taufen of Groundswell Fisheries Movement acknowledged writing the letter and said that the Congresswoman in question is Rep. Jaime Hererra Beutler, R-Wash.

Beutler, a representative of southwest Washington, sits on the House Appropriations Committee. Much of the Gulf trawl industry is based in Seattle.

Read the full story at the Alaska Journal of Commerce

Rep. Tom MacArthur: Stop Spending Money on Designating Marine Monuments

March 22, 2016 — (Saving Seafood) —Rep. Tom MacArthur (NJ-03) is calling on Congress to prohibit the use of any funds to be used for designating national marine monuments, in a letter sent today to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science.

Rep. MacArthur writes that the current process of declaring national marine monuments relies on a century-old law, the 1906 Antiquities Act, that gives the Executive the authority to declare monuments by fiat, without any consultation. According to the letter, this process is undemocratic, and ignores the valid economic concerns of fishing communities, many of whom have already taken steps of their own initiative to maintain the ecological conditions of the areas in which they make their living.

“The diversity of interests encompassed at the shore necessitates a balanced democratic and scientific approach to our conservation and management that involves all of the relevant stakeholders,” writes Rep. MacArthur

Rep. MacArthur also states in his letter that the Antiquities Act provides no incentive for government officials to consult with state and local officials who know these resources best, which he contends is essential for sound resource management.

“To achieve management balance and buy-in from affected stakeholders and to adequately protect those areas that are most unique, we must not ignore the technical expertise of the fishing community and local and state wildlife officials and their willingness to apply sound conservation ethics to the resources they are privileged to access and proud to bring to the consumer,” he writes.

See Rep. MacArthur’s full letter here.