March 28, 2026 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued a secretarial disaster designation for the aquaculture sector in Suffolk County, New York, allowing commercial oystermen to access low-interest loans.
“Early last month, I urged the USDA to take swift action to declare Suffolk County a disaster area and help our aquaculture growers get the assistance they need to recover and move forward,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said. “With this secretarial disaster declaration, the producers who have seen economic loss can now take advantage of low-interest loans to help ensure they’re able to sustain their operations. I have long been committed to helping this important agricultural sector grow and thrive, and the state will continue to support the industry through this hardship.”