• The organism will play an important role in the development of the America First Seafood Strategy to promote production, marketing, sale and export of US fishery and aquaculture products.
United States (US) Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins recently announced the creation of the new US 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. The USDA Office of Seafood will play an important role in coordinating with the US Department of Commerce in the development of the America First Seafood Strategy to promote production, marketing, sale, and export of US fishery and aquaculture products and strengthen domestic processing capacity.
According to them, with the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the Federal government now enters a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen and seafood producers will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the US food supply.
“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,” said Rollins.
A Vital Part of the Nation’s Food Security
The announcement was made by Rollins alongside Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, Alaska Senator Dan Sullivan and Maine Senator Susan Collins.
“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 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.”
Recognizing Farmers and Fishermen
One of the primary roles of the new office will be coordinating across USDA agencies to ensure seafood producers and fishermen are integrated into their programs and working alongside the US Department of Commerce and other Federal partners to revitalize the American seafood industry.
“Fishing is the very foundation of Maine’s heritage. Today, the seafood industry in our region generates more than USD 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 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.”
For his part, Sullivan contributed his point of view: “Alaska’s fishermen deserve the same federal attention, resources, and risk management tools afforded to America’s incredible farmers. 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 Rollins and 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.”
First-Ever
The Representative Cammack finalized: “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”.
