July 9, 2026 — A group of United States senators have asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to purchase more catfish, claiming that the sector is under “severe financial strain.”
Under Section 32 of the U.S. Agricultural Adjustment Act, the USDA can purchase surplus goods and use the food in federal food assistance programs, and the government does so regularly.
June 26, 2026 — Oregon’s fishing industry has expressed strong support for the new USDA Office of Seafood.
Yelena Nowak, Oregon Trawl Commission director, called the development long overdue and said the agency will provide increased opportunities with grants, marketing and promotions.
Fishermen and seafood processors haven’t had access to many USDA programs because of their wild catch, she said.
June 26, 2026 — The U.S. Senate has released its version of the Farm Bill, and, like the version passed by the House, the massive legislation includes multiple provisions meant to support the seafood sector.
“Seafood is one of America’s great food resources, yet it has often been overlooked in programs designed to support domestic food production and regional economies,” Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Executive Director Ben Martens said in a release. “The inclusion of these seafood priorities represents meaningful progress toward better integrating seafood into federal food policy.”
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.
June 11, 2026 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Certified Group’s new method of testing for polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) – popularly known as “forever chemicals” – in frozen clams.
The Melville, New York, U.S.A.-based laboratory testing company said it developed its validated method for the analysis of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) in frozen clams with direct guidance from FDA. The testing has now been approved by the government, the company said.
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.
June 2, 2026 — The U.S. secretary of agriculture and the acting secretary of labor visited Craven County today to speak with farmers about their concerns.
Officials held a roundtable at David Parker Farms, where local farmers raised concerns about labor costs.
U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins said multiple factors affect labor costs.
“Farm economy is struggling. The cost of inputs obviously skyrocketed under the last administration, and they were coming down. The Iranian conflict has caused a short blip in the increase, but this blip is coming during planting season, which is not ideal, so making sure we understand that, but also building for the long term,” Rollins said.
May 29, 2026 — The Louisiana House of Representatives has passed a resolution calling on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to buy shrimp from the Southern state.
The lawmakers asked the federal government to purchase shrimp landed in Louisiana under Section 32 of the Agricultural Adjustment Act, which authorizes the USDA to purchase surplus goods to support domestic producers and use the food for federal nutrition programs, such as school lunches.
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.”
May 1, 2026 — The U.S. House has passed its Farm Bill renewal legislation, voting to attach two seafood-related amendments before final passage.
The Farm Bill is the main legislation guiding agriculture and food policy in the U.S., and the domestic seafood sector has latched onto the omnibus bill as a vector for growing the presence of seafood and aquaculture in particular within the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and ensuring American fishers get the same federal support as American farmers. The House released its draft of the Farm Bill in February.