Saving Seafood

SATS pens letter to Biden urging support for aquaculture prioritization

May 24, 2021 — U.S. aquaculture advocacy group Stronger America Through Seafood penned a letter last week urging President Joe Biden to prioritize seafood production to help mitigate climate change and outline the climate impacts and potential benefits of aquaculture in the country.

“As our federal leaders seek innovative solutions to address the climate crisis, aquaculture, one of the most resource-efficient methods for protein production, should be considered as a tool to help feed our growing population responsibly while protecting our planet,” SATS campaign manager Margaret Henderson said. “Through federal action, the [Biden] administration and Congress can establish a clear regulatory pathway for permitting offshore aquaculture that would support a sustainable seafood future, increase the resiliency of our food systems, and create new jobs in communities nationwide.”

Read the full story at Seafood Source

Congress urged to back aquacultural expansion

April 6, 2021 — A seafood pressure group is calling on the US Congress to support the expansion of the country’s aquaculture sector in order to benefit the American economy, industries and communities.

Through a new industry campaign titled “Essential Aquaculture,” Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) aims to create a sense of urgency for Congress to act swiftly on aquaculture.

“As Congress debates ways to address the many pressing challenges we face, including economic recovery, food security and environmental challenges, aquaculture should be considered as one of the solutions,” said Margaret Henderson, Campaign Manager of SATS.

“The expansion of American aquaculture is essential to the US economy. Aquaculture can strengthen American communities by supporting new jobs and a diverse workforce in a post-pandemic world. Increased seafood production would also ensure families have a steady supply of affordable American-raised seafood produced sustainably with minimal impact on the environment, which is essential to climate and conservation efforts.”

Read the full story at The Fish Site

Petition, gathering kick off new push for US federal aquaculture bills

February 19, 2019 — Another push for passage of a new US federal aquaculture law is in full swing with a petition to Congress signed by 122 professionals mostly from aquaculture or other seafood-related industries.

An informational gathering on Capitol Hill has been scheduled for lawmakers and their staff early next month.

Both the US Senate and House of Representatives’ versions of the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act that were introduced during the 115th Congress expired in December along with the session, but Margaret Henderson, campaign director for the Stronger American Through Seafood (SATS), told Undercurrent News Friday that she believes new bills will be introduced in both chambers within the next two months.

Senators Roger Wicker, a Mississippi Republican, and Marco Rubio, a Florida Republican, and representatives Collin Peterson, a Minnesota Democrat, and Steve Palazzo, another Mississippi Republican, all of whom championed the earlier bills, are back, and support is already being built.

Read the full story at Undercurrent News

GSI Newsroom Update: GSI’s Walk On The Hill 2017

February 13, 2017 — The following was released by the Gulf Seafood Institute: 

As certain as the pageantry of Mardi Gras infuses the party circuits each February on Capitol Hill, early February also marks the annual Walk on the Hill by the Gulf of Mexico’s primary seafood industry advocate.

Earlier this week, Gulf Seafood Institute commissioned a three-person lobby —GSI founder Harlon Pearce, founding board member Stan Harris, and executive director Margaret Henderson — to meet key Members of Congress, Senators and staff in 21 legislative offices about the fishery issues that impact their home states along the Gulf coast. 

Read the full story at the Gulf Seafood Institute