Saving Seafood

OREGON: USDA Announces Office of Seafood

June 11, 2026 — The following was released by the Oregon Department of Agriculture:

Oregon fishers, crabbers, clammers and shrimpers will greatly benefit from the newly established Office of Seafood, recently announced by Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins in a move that signals a stronger federal commitment to support and revitalize America’s seafood Industry.

From Newport to Astoria to Coos Bay, Oregon’s fishermen drive coastal economies and help feed the nation. The Office of Seafood will ensure they have the necessary federal programs and services needed to keep their legacy and livelihood alive and remain competitive in the global market for the next generation. Oregon’s fishermen are essential to our state’s economy and America’s food supply. This effort is about putting these Fishermen First and cutting barriers through delivery of the support they need to stay competitive and profitable.

Local leaders and seafood business owners applaud USDA’s Office of Seafood with widespread support.

“The creation of the USDA Office of Seafood is exactly the kind of bold, coordinated action our fishing communities have needed for years,” said Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson representing Newport, one of Oregon’s largest fishing ports. Senator Anderson further points out the huge disparity of foreign imports that flood local markets.

Restrictions such as low catch limits, selling fishing grounds for foreign countries, inaccurate and outdated fisheries data and delayed adoption of modern technology have prohibited Oregon’s fish economy from fully realizing its huge economic potential.

“As large and important as Oregon’s fishing industry already is, we must also recognize the tremendous, untapped potential ahead of us. The Office of Seafood will keep fishermen fishing,” said Oregon State Senator Suzanne Weber.

Oregon’s seafood industry already lands hundreds of millions of pounds annually, generating more than $600 million in dockside value and supporting thousands of jobs tied to harvesting, processing, and distribution, according to NOAA Fisheries. For decades Oregon fishers have lost market share and the ability to make a family wage living due to Federal government overregulation.

“Providing sustainable food products for the people of America along with responsible natural resource stewardship for our nation will provide and nurture future generations,” said Steve Fick of Fishhawk Fisheries, who runs boats out of Astoria, on the northern Oregon coast.

Oregon’s shrimp fleet is thankful to Secretary Rollins. “USDA Office of Seafood will pave the way for our pink shrimp to be further implemented into the USDA food service programs,” said Nick Edwards, from Jordani Pink Shrimp Fishery, Coos Bay, Or, who operates the second largest pink shrimp fishery in Oregon.

That’s where the Office of Seafood comes in. The initiative marks a new era where Oregon, and American fishermen will be recognized by USDA as key part of the U.S. food supply that supports rural and coastal communities. The office will focus on infrastructure, marketing and trade, workforce development, and stronger risk management and disaster assistance.

Pacific Seafood, one of Oregon’s largest seafood processors, is excited about the Office of Seafood. “We are thrilled about this opportunity that will give West Coast seafood communities a stronger voice and help connect local harvesters and producers to the families and students who rely on nutritious high-quality food,” said Bella Johnson, Pacific Seafoods Spokesperson.

Standing up an Office of Seafood supports existing tools already available to producers of farm-raised fish through USDA’s Farm Service Agency, including farm loans for equipment and operations, the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-Raised Fish, the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program offering risk management and disaster recovery, and the Farm Storage Facility Loan Program to support critical cold storage infrastructure. In addition, the Office of Seafood is leading coordinated interagency efforts to reduce regulatory hurdles faced by American seafood producers, and leading efforts to discover and implement new practices that promote strong coastal communities.

With USDA working alongside Interior, Commerce, and Health and Human Services, this coordinated approach delivers the kind of support Oregon’s fisherman have long needed, and deserve, bringing a holistic approach to federal government support that is much needed and long overdue.

 

US House passes agriculture appropriations bill with more funding for Office of Seafood

June 10, 2026 — Lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives included another year’s worth of money for the new Office of Seafood within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a fiscal year 2027 appropriations bill funding the department, along with other seafood provisions.

The bill includes several of the priorities and stipulations outlined in the fiscal year 2026 agriculture appropriations legislation, which was passed by Congress in November 2025 following a multi-week shutdown of the federal government.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

House advances seafood provisions in Farm Bill

April 30, 2026 — Commercial fishing groups are pointing to renewed momentum in Congress after the House of Representatives advanced a Farm Bill that includes several long-sought seafood provisions, a move that advocates say aligns with broader efforts to advance legislation like the FISH Act.

The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC) said the House-passed bill marks a step toward integrating U.S. seafood more fully into federal food policy– something industry leaders have pushed for years.

The legislation includes provisions aimed at formalizing a USDA Office of Seafood, expanding opportunities for domestically harvested seafood in federal purchasing programs, and better aligning nutrition policy with American food production.

Read the full article at the National Fisherman

USDA launches new office to support US seafood industry

April 17, 2026 — The federal government is rolling out a new office aimed at making it easier for fishermen and seafood businesses to get help from Washington.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is creating an Office of Seafood, a first of its kind office aimed at better connecting seafood producers with federal programs and support.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement the goal is to make it easier for fishermen, processors and aquaculture businesses to navigate government resources that haven’t always been easy to access.

Read the full article at WSUA9

Senator Collins’ Statement on the Creation of the USDA Office of Seafood

April 17, 2026 — The following was released by the Office of U.S. Senator Susan Collins:

U.S. Senator Susan Collins released the following statement announcing the creation of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Seafood:

“Fishing is the very foundation of Maine’s heritage. Today, the seafood industry in our region generates more than $5 billion in income and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, in addition to providing a nutritious food supply, delicious restaurant meals, and sustaining entire coastal communities. I appreciate that USDA is recognizing our fishermen as farmers of the sea and establishing the Office of Seafood. The creation of this office is a long-overdue, essential step to expanding seats at the table for our hardworking fishing families, who are a key piece of our nation’s history and our future as well.”

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The USDA Office of Seafood will expand federal support for America’s fishermen and seafood harvesters, and ensure fishermen, small businesses, and coastal communities have greater access to USDA programs. It will also coordinate across USDA agencies to ensure fishermen are able to interact directly with the U.S. Department of Commerce and other federal partners to revitalize the American seafood industry.

Senator Collins has been a strong advocate for Maine’s fishermen and women and the seafood industry. Senator Collins led the Maine delegation in securing a provision in the Fiscal Year 2023 appropriations legislation that protected the Maine lobster fishery from unfair federal regulation for six years. Since the enactment of this provision, Senator Collins has secured more than $80 million in funding for North Atlantic Right Whale research and monitoring through her role on the Senate Appropriations Committee. This research supports Maine’s lobster industry by improving the quality of the data used to inform federal regulations.

Senator Collins also led efforts to rebuild Maine’s working waterfronts. After back-to-back storms in January 2024 that caused significant damage to Maine’s coast, Senator Collins secured $15 million to help communities recover from coastal infrastructure damage in the Fiscal Year 2024 Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act. The legislation included $10 million, administered through the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, to repair and renovate infrastructure affected by recent storms, and $5 million to establish a new program at the Economic Development Administration (EDA) for working waterfronts.

The announcement came during the week of the fiftieth anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act—the primary law governing marine fisheries in U.S. federal waters.

Secretary Rollins Announces the Creation of the USDA Office of Seafood

April 15, 2026 — The following was relased by the USDA:

Today, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins alongside U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan, and Maine Senator Susan Collins announced the creation of the new U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Seafood. This first of its kind office will prioritize customer service and ease of navigation for American seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to access USDA programs.

“President Trump is the first President to recognize fisherman for the essential work they do to sustain our food supply,” said Secretary Rollins. “With the launch of the USDA Office of Seafood, we are honoring decades of hard work on the water and opening the door to new opportunities, stronger support, and a brighter future for the seafood industry. Today’s announcement, in addition to the historic tax cuts and investments in rural America made possible through the priorities and provisions in the Working Families Tax Cuts, is truly a new chapter for America’s fishermen.”

“The Department of the Interior is thrilled to support the establishment of the first-ever Seafood Office at the Department of Agriculture – an initiative that puts the people who help feed America first,” said Secretary Burgum. “American fishermen are the backbone of coastal economies and a vital part of our nation’s food security. By improving coordination across agencies, the Seafood Office will ensure these fishermen can fully access the tools and programs they need to thrive.”

“The Trump Administration is committed to supporting American fishermen, strengthening our coastal communities, and ensuring families have access to affordable high-quality American seafood,” said Secretary Lutnick. “When our fishermen win, America wins.”

“Fishing is the very foundation of Maine’s heritage. Today, the seafood industry in our region generates more than $5 billion in income and supports hundreds of thousands of jobs, in addition to providing a nutritious food supply, delicious restaurant meals, and sustaining entire coastal communities,” said Senator Collins. “I appreciate that USDA is recognizing our fishermen as farmers of the sea and establishing the Office of Seafood. The creation of this office is a long overdue, essential step to expanding seats at the table for our hardworking fishing families, who are a key piece of our nation’s history and our future as well.”

“Alaska’s fishermen deserve the same federal attention, resources, and risk management tools afforded to America’s incredible farmers,” said Senator Sullivan. “The new USDA Office of Seafood—an action I’ve been strongly advocating for over the past decade—opens the door to that opportunity. This office is going to benefit everybody: all of Alaska’s fishermen, our small businesses, and our many coastal and Interior communities from across the state. I thank Secretary Rollins and Secretary Lutnick for working closely with me and my team over the past year to fully understand the challenges facing our fishermen and coastal communities and for taking meaningful action on their behalf. With this new office, we’re going to build a stronger partnership between USDA, Department of Commerce, the entire Executive Branch, and our fishermen, so they can continue to do what they do best: sustainably harvesting the freshest and healthiest wild seafood in the world.”

“Proud to be part of the launch of the inaugural, first-ever USDA Office of Seafood! Food security is national security which means prioritizing domestic production and strengthening our food supply here at home. From our Florida coasts to communities across the country, we’re cutting red tape, backing our fishermen, and ensuring American seafood competes—and wins—on the world stage. This office will not only elevate and support commercial production, but also advance commonsense conservation so future generations can thrive in this industry. As Chair of the Aquaculture Caucus, I’m grateful for the tenacious leadership driving this effort forward—Secretary Rollins, Secretary Lutnick, Secretary Hassett, Secretary Burgum—and President Trump,” said Representative Cammack.

Fifty years ago this week, the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act—the primary law governing marine fisheries in U.S. federal waters—was signed into law, providing the fishing industry with long-term economic stability. However, for years, fishermen across the country have been struggling to navigate programs at USDA that can help support their businesses.

With the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the Federal government now enters a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the U.S. food supply.

One of the primary roles of the new USDA Office of Seafood will be coordinating across USDA agencies to ensure fishermen are integrated into USDA programs and working alongside the U.S. Department of Commerce and other Federal partners to revitalize the American seafood industry.

Today’s action supports USDA’s implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order 14276, Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness. The USDA Office of Seafood will play an important role in coordinating with the U.S. Department of Commerce in the development of the America First Seafood Strategy to promote production, marketing, sale, and export of U.S. fishery and aquaculture products and strengthen domestic processing capacity.

For additional information, email seafood@usda.gov or visit www.usda.gov/seafood.