Saving Seafood

USDA invests USD 13 million in four seafood innovation projects

September 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has invested in four seafood innovation projects as part of USD 13 million (EUR 12 million) in small business research and technology grants announced last month.

“The Biden-Harris administration is committed to investing, growing and supporting small businesses through increased market opportunities that also strengthen the food system nationally and locally,” USDA Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics Chavonda Jacobs-Young said. “Science-based innovations from federally funded research, often developed through public-private partnerships, create products and services that increase productivity and enhance global competitiveness for the U.S. agriculture sector.”

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US lawmakers want to make sure aquaculture gets equal treatment by USDA

August 4, 2023 — A group of U.S. lawmakers are continuing their campaign to ensure the aquaculture industry is getting adequate support and fair treatment from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

Last week, U.S. Representative Frank Pallone (D-New Jersey) introduced the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act, which would require the USDA to ensure it provides “fair funding levels” to aquaculture producers in its program. The USDA, Pallone claimed, devotes a disproportionate percentage of its program funding to animal agriculture.

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US catfish companies leaving fish in the water longer

July 25, 2023 — U.S. catfish production is down year-on-year in terms of fish numbers, but up in terms of weight, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The report, released by the USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service, indicates the water surface acres used for catfish production and the foodsize inventory of catfish in the three major producing states – Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi – are both down. However, live-weight statistics indicate that despite having fewer fish in the water, the overall weight of the fish is up.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

OBI Seafoods, Trident Seafoods receive additional USDA contracts

July 3, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture is continuing its seafood spending spree this week, after awarding nearly USD 90 million (EUR 82 million) in contracts last week.

The latest awards, which were announced on 29 June, are for the federal government’s domestic food assistance programs.

Seattle, Washington, U.S.A.-based OBI Seafoods was awarded a contract to supply 47,120 cases of canned pink salmon worth USD 2.6 million (EUR 2.4 million).

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

US lawmakers want to establish USDA Office of Aquaculture

June 20, 2023 — U.S. representatives in Congress have introduced legislation to create an office of aquaculture within the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“Shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers play an essential role in our food supply, but historically they haven’t received the support they need to reach their full potential,” U.S.Rep. Suzanne Bonamici (D-Oregon) said, adding that a USDA aquaculture program office “will help shellfish harvesters and seaweed farmers grow their small businesses while expanding blue carbon ecosystems that help address the climate crisis.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

USDA announces plans to buy more Alaska pollock and catfish

May 11, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture wants to purchase up to 470,000 pounds of catfish and 1.2 million pounds of Alaska pollock for use in domestic food distribution programs.

The Alaska pollock will be used for the USDA’s National School Lunch Program. The department is looking for both frozen Alaska pollock fillets and fish sticks, with bids due 17 May. The USDA will announce the contract awards by midnight on 23 May.

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OREGON: Oregon fishing industry finds relief as USDA makes $52M purchase

May 10, 2023 — There’s relief among South Coast fishing communities following the announcement of the United State Department of Agriculture’s purchase of $52 million in Oregon seafood products.

“Before, somebody would think whether or not they should or can afford hiring a crewman. Maybe now they can actually say, ‘Okay, I actually know that we need to deliver these orders,” said Yelena Nowak, Executive Director of the Oregon Trawl Commission. “And I think processors will be in the same position. They know that they need labor. There’s no uncertainty about it.”

The USDA program traditionally purchases surplus food products from vendors for food assistance programs, but seafood is moving higher on the food list.

Read the full article at KATU

USDA to purchase USD 119.5 million worth of Alaskan sockeye and groundfish

May 9, 2023 — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) intends to purchase USD 119.5 million (EUR 109 million) worth of Alaskan sockeye salmon and Pacific groundfish for federal food assistance programs, according to Alaska’s congressional delegation.

“USDA’s purchase of Alaska seafood is great news for our fishing industry and all who depend on federal food assistance,” U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) said in a statement. “Alaskan fishermen stand ready to help feed their communities, and these purchases provide them the perfect opportunity to bring healthy Alaskan seafood to the tables of families who need it most.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

ALASKA: Delegation helps convince USDA to approve major purchase of Alaska Seafood

May 8, 2023 — U.S. Senators Lisa Murkowski and Dan Sullivan and U.S. Representative Mary Peltola Friday applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement that it has approved the purchase of up to $119.5 million worth of Alaskan Sockeye and Pacific Groundfish, which will be distributed across the country through federal food assistance programs.

“USDA’s purchase of Alaska seafood is great news for our fishing industry and all who depend on federal food assistance,” said Senator Murkowski. “Alaskan fishermen stand ready to help feed their communities, and these purchases provide them the perfect opportunity to bring healthy Alaskan seafood to the tables of families who need it most.”

Read the full article at KINY

US FDA releases report outlining how it plans to keep seafood imports safe

March 23, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has released a report outlining how it plans to continue keeping the country’s seafood imports safe.

The report, “Activities for the Safety of Imported Seafood,” released in late February 2023, explains how the FDA is building upon the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act and the FDA Strategy for the Safety of Imported Food to accomplish its goals for imported seafood. In its report, the FDA acknowledged that the seafood supply chain one of the most-complicated it deals with. Further complicating its job is the fact that a vast majority of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported.

Read the full article at SeafoodSource