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US West Coast lawmakers want USDA to buy more seafood from their states

May 11, 2022 — A group of Democratic U.S. senators and representatives from West Coast states have written a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack calling on his agency to spend more on seafood purchases from producers in their states.

The letter notes that California, Oregon, and Washington state produce more than USD 500 million (EUR 473.6 million) worth of seafood annually, more than an eighth of total domestic production in the U.S., and 25 percent of the country’s processing and wholesale jobs are located in the three Pacific Coast states.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

The Development of the New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance – NH Based Young Fishermen’s Alliance Organization Forms with Help from the USDA

May 9, 2022 — The following was released by the New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance:

As a response to the national phenomenon called the “graying of the fleet” former GM of NH Community Seafood, Andrea Tomlinson sets out to organize, train and advocate for  the next generation of northern New England fishermen and women 

In response to an increasing decline of younger generation fishermen and women entering  the commercial fishing industry in northern New England, former GM of NH Community  Seafood, Andrea Tomlinson, has collaborated with Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative, the  UNH NH Food Hub Network, Gorhan Public Health Consulting and the Rockingham  Economic Development Center to develop the New England Young Fishermen’s Alliance

(NEYFA). The development of the long-awaited Alliance is made possible by a USDA  LAMP Farmer’s Market Promotion Program grant, awarded in late 2021, with funding  secured in February of this year. In addition to forming the New England Young  Fishermen’s Alliance into a nonprofit entity, the USDA grant also supports three annual  Deckhand to Captain Training programs, which will be sponsored by the Alliance.

In a series focus groups called Dock Talks: Next Generation, held in 2019, with  collaboration from NH Sea Grant, NH Community Seafood and NH Food Alliance, young  fishermen expressed that the major barriers to entering the industry as a Captain were  capital requirements necessary for a boat and a permit, complex and restrictive regulations  within the industry, lack of reliable and knowledgeable labor and consumers  misinterpretation of the commercial fishing industry. As an entry level Captain in the  commercial fishing industry today, the initial capital requirement is $250,000 minimum,  to purchase a boat, permit and equipment.

Experienced deckhands and sternmen, with a minimum of 5 years’ experience in the  industry working on either groundfish, charter and/or lobster boats will be eligible to apply  for a free 10 -month training program to get more of the next generation of young  fishermen and women into the Captain’s wheelhouse. The cohort of 6 trainees for the 2022  training have been chosen and range in age from 27-38 years old. The Deckhand to Captain  training program is a first of its kind in New England, where experienced young fishermen  and women will receive instruction on business management and training, collaborative  marketing, industry standard and regulations, permitting and compliance, public speaking  and pairing with a veteran Captain as a mentor.

There has been a drastic reduction in succession within commercial fishing industry  nationwide with the average age of both groundfish and lobster Captains in New  Hampshire and much of northern New England, currently averaging 55 years old.  Similarly, the amount of 600-trap lobster permits in NH, the most common permit in the  state, has declined by almost 66 % from 2000 to 2021 (NH Fish and Game, 2022). More  concerning is the dramatic decrease in groundfish vessels currently fishing in NH and  northern New England. In NH alone, 104 groundfish vessels were licensed to harvest  groundfish in 2000, but by 2021, a mere 18 vessels obtained groundfish licenses and of  them, only five vessels are currently commercially fishing for groundfish from our NH  shores. Within the last two years, NH has seen four veteran groundfish Captains retire with  no younger generation Captains to take their place.

The Deckhand to Captain Training Program, intends to assist entry level Captains in  transitioning from the back of the deck to the Captain’s wheelhouse. The development of  the organization as a nonprofit will be assisted through a recent acceptance into the  Portsmouth-based nonprofit incubator called GoodWork. With a team of skilled and  experienced coaches, professional partners and mentors, the GoodWork nonprofit  incubator program helps facilitate learning and guide incubator participants on the path  towards success. The program builds on participant’s strengths to assist them to be more  effective, collaborative, adaptive, and better prepared to achieve their mission.

Once developed, the NEYFA plans to offer resources and networking opportunities,  relevant speakers as well as ongoing training programs designed to benefit the young  fishing industry in southern Maine, NH and northern Massachusetts. The Alliance also  intends to increase young industry participation at both state and regional regulatory  meetings that encourage industry input when developing regulations and industry  standards at public hearings.

“This is a project I have been trying to develop for over four years. Through my years of  direct interaction with the commercial fishing community in northern New England, it has  become painfully evident that our area is suffering from the “graying of the fleet”. There  are far too many deterring obstacles in the path of an entry-level Captain in this industry  and we need to change that scenario in order to preserve the heritage and culture of our  working waterfronts in northern New England. The New England commercial fisherman  is becoming an endangered species and we need to fix that, “says Founder/Executive  Director, Andrea Tomlinson.

David Goethel, veteran fisheries advocate, and recently retired commercial  fisherman also sits on the Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative Board of Directors. “I am  very pleased to see six qualified people selected for training in starting their own  commercial fishing businesses. Commercial fishermen feed America and I am glad to see  young people stepping forward to replace those of us aging out of the fishery,” said  Goethel.

Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative is the grant applicant and administrator. General  Manager and Authorized Organizational Representative (AOR) on the grant, Linda Hunt feels “We at Yankee Fishermen’s Cooperative are so happy to see this program in  our area. We are so excited to support this.”

 

Virginia seafood sector gets $1.9M COVID mitigation grant

February 17, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture granted $1.9 million to the Virginia Marine Resources Commission to help seafood processors cover costs incurred to prevent exposure to COVID-19.

Processing facilities and owners of processing vessels can apply to the commission for funds.

“Our fisheries and aquaculture industries have endured intense economic hardships since the beginning of COVID-19,” said Rep. Elaine Luria, D-Virginia Beach, in announcing the grant.

Read the full story at the Daily Press

More than $4M in grant funds awarded to help Louisiana seafood industry

February 16, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced funds to support the Louisiana seafood industry.

The funds are an investment of $4,229,669 in grants to support Louisiana seafood processors, processing facilities, and processing vessels for expenses related to COVID-19.

According to the state, the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry’s (LDAF) Louisiana Agricultural Finance Authority (LAFA) has been selected to administer the Louisiana Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program (LSPPRS) as a result of the grant award.

The program is funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

Read the full story at KATC News

USDA announces USD 50 million allocation in COVID aid for seafood businesses

February 16, 2022 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has announced the allocation of USD 50 million (EUR 43.9 million) in grant funds to help the seafood industry in 25 states and territories.

The funding, which Congress appropriated in the COVID-19 emergency relief portion of the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in December 2020, will be awarded to state agencies to help companies that operate fishing vessels and processing facilities reduce the cost of planning and executing their responses to the pandemic.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

 

USDA Announces $50 Million in Grants Awarded to States to Support the Seafood Industry

February 15, 2022 — The following was released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture:

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced an investment of approximately $50 million in grants to support seafood processors, processing facilities and processing vessels through the Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety Block Grant Program (SPRS).

This grant funding, to be distributed through state agencies, will help defray costs incurred by seafood processing facilities and processing vessels preparing for, preventing exposure to, and responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. SPRS recipients include state agencies, commissions, or departments responsible for agriculture, fisheries, wildlife, seafood, commercial processing, or related commerce activities within Alabama, Alaska, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington, as well as the territory of American Samoa. This program is funded by the Pandemic Assistance provided in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021.

“USDA is working with agricultural and food businesses to ensure that, following the pandemic disruptions, they have the resources and tools to continue building more and better markets, and to thrive in 2022 and beyond,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “This funding for seafood processors and processing vessels will serve as a bridge, providing relief to an industry that was greatly affected by the pandemic as well as the resulting changes in consumer demand. This program is part of our larger pandemic assistance program, providing support to producers, distributors, processors and other small agricultural businesses to get our food system back on track.”

Once USDA has made awards, state agencies will provide funds to seafood processing facilities and processing vessels. Seafood processors and processing vessels should apply directly through their state agency. A listing of state contacts will be made available on the USDA website.

Additionally, states are encouraged to prioritize applications that benefit smaller processors and vessels, socially disadvantaged processors, veteran processors, and/or underserved communities. For grants intending to serve these entities, applicants should engage and involve those beneficiaries when developing projects and applications.

A complete list of the SPRS grant recipients is available on the Agricultural Marketing Service website at: Seafood Processors Pandemic Response and Safety (SPRS) Block Grant Program.

AMS supports U.S. food and agricultural products market opportunities, while increasing consumer access to fresh, healthy foods through applied research, technical services, and Congressionally funded grants. To learn more about AMS’s investments in enhancing and strengthening agricultural systems, visit www.ams.usda.gov/grants.

Read the release from the USDA

 

USDA trade officer in Japan sees opportunity for US seafood exports

January 28, 2022 — The Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) maintains Agricultural Trade Offices (ATOs) in U.S. embassies and many consulates. The ATOs provide market information and help to coordinate promotions for U.S. exporters. SeafoodSource talked with the new director of the ATO in Osaka, Japan, Alexander Blamberg. Before taking up the post in August 2021, he was agricultural attaché at the U.S. embassy in Tokyo, where he focused on trade policy, working to expand exports of U.S. livestock, dairy, and poultry products to Japan.

SeafoodSource: What are your priorities coming into the post? Are there any new initiatives that you intend to try?

Blamberg: Japan is a highly developed market. It’s the fourth-largest market for U.S. agricultural exports overall, and it’s the third-largest market for U.S. seafood products. Still, it’s a very dynamic and competitive market. One of the most significant changes to the market in the last few years has been Japan’s implementation of new trade agreements – the CPTTP [Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership], an agreement with the European Union, and of course, a bilateral agreement with the United States.

Read the full story at SeafoodSource

Pingree Announces $500K in USDA Funding to Support Growing Aquaculture Industry in Maine

December 10, 2021 — The following was released by The Office of Congresswoman Chellie Pingree:

Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) today announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has awarded a $500,000 grant to the Gulf of Maine Research Institute (GMRI) to establish a comprehensive aquaculture workforce training system to support Maine’s rapidly growing aquaculture industry.

“Maine’s aquaculture industry is vital to our state’s economy but needs a skilled workforce to continue to grow and innovate. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute has developed a forward-thinking solution. This comprehensive, collaborative training program will train aquaculturists with in-demand knowledge and skills, helping students to secure good jobs and supporting the workforce needs of this important sector,” said Congresswoman Pingree. “As a member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, I have long worked to secure funding for these NIFA grants, which have helped to launch many careers in the nation’s food and agriculture sector. This substantial NIFA award will help ensure Maine’s aquaculture industry reaches its full potential now and in the future.”

The funding will:

  • Help GMRI develop and pilot a Maine Department of Labor Aquaculture (ME DOL) Aquaculture Apprenticeship Program where participants will gain valuable experience, receive mentoring, get trained and tested on defined occupational competencies, and learn to use cutting-edge technology at Maine’s most sophisticated commercial shellfish and sea vegetable farms.
  • Develop and administer a series of stackable, credentialed, aquaculture short courses at Southern Maine Community College (SMCC) that form the basis of an Aquaculture Certificate.
  • Update the Maine Aquaculture Occupational Standards for Shellfish and Sea Vegetables, Recirculating Aquaculture Systems, and Marine Finfish to ensure that aquaculture workforce training remains relevant to Maine’s rapidly evolving and growing industry.
  • Coordinate program development and delivery between SMCC, Washington County Community College, The Mid-Coast School of Technology (K-9 Career Technical Education High School), and ME DOL Apprenticeship to establish matriculation pathways and dual-credit programs that enable fast-tracked degree completion.

The programming developed will have the potential to be expanded to other community colleges in Maine and throughout the Northeast.

In April 2021, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center in Walpole was awarded $500,000 from NIFA to develop an aquaculture workforce training pilot in partnership with Washington County Community College.

Pingree serves on both the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and the House Agriculture Committee.

 

U.S. to spend $25 million to distribute East Coast fish to nutrition programs

December 27, 2021 — The federal government will spend $25 million on East Coast fish to aid nutrition assistance programs and help New England’s struggling commercial fishing industry.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture said Wednesday it would make the purchase on Atlantic groundfish. That is a group of species such as cod, haddock and pollock that come to the docks in states including Massachusetts and Maine and are popular in seafood markets and restaurants.

The purchase came after members of the Massachusetts congressional delegation called on the USDA to purchase more East Coast seafood through its programs that distribute food to residents in need.

Read the full story from the Associated Press at the Portland Press Herald

 

MAINE: Seafood purveyors look to boost direct marketing

October 27, 2021 — A drop-off last year in seafood exports and the domestic wholesale market resulted in a pivot that increased direct marketing, retail and e-commerce sales.

Now a new survey is looking to help the commercial fishing industry continue the direct-marketing trend, as an important socio-economic hedge to protect against future shocks to the system and ensure food security.

A partnership between the University of Maine and federal agencies aims to help the commercial fishing industry understand local and regional seafood marketing practices, and help remove barriers to direct marketing.

UMaine initiated the partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Marine Fisheries Service.

The service is a department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Over the next year, the partners will develop a national benchmark survey of direct seafood marketing practices in domestic wild-caught fisheries in an effort to strengthen food systems and coastal community resilience.

“Currently, there is a gap in national-level data on the domestic seafood system,” Joshua Stoll, one of the principal investigators for the project and a UMaine assistant professor of marine policy.

Read the full story at Mainebiz

 

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