August 24, 2026 — Telling the stories of watermen and meeting consumers where they’re at emerged as priorities during a hearing for a new seafood marketing initiative in Maryland.
With consumption down and state regulations adding to the hurdles faced by seafood harvesters, Marylanders are making a coordinated effort to revive seafood sales both locally and abroad.
Earlier this year, the state Legislature tasked the Maryland Department of Agriculture with forming a seafood marketing workgroup to identify challenges and opportunities in the industry and develop an expanded state-led strategy.
Seafood industry representatives, state legislators and the secretaries of agriculture and natural resources make up the group.
The first of two public listening sessions for hearing stakeholders’ input took place Aug. 18 at the Ag Department office, with an introduction by Maryland Ag Secretary Kevin Atticks.
He said the state’s seafood industry is diverse and the workgroup needs stakeholder input to form a coherent plan.
“The market has completely changed in some respects and in other areas hasn’t changed in a century,” Atticks said.