The new Office of Seafood is designed to help fishermen and seafood businesses navigate federal programs and access funding and support.
WASHINGTON โ The federal government is rolling out a new office aimed at making it easier for fishermen and seafood businesses to get help from Washington.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced it is creating an Office of Seafood, a first of its kind office aimed at better connecting seafood producers with federal programs and support.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke L. Rollins said in a statement the goal is to make it easier for fishermen, processors and aquaculture businesses to navigate government resources that havenโt always been easy to access.
โFor years, fishermen have had a hard time tapping into USDA programs that could help their businesses,โ the statement said. “With the creation of the USDA Office of Seafood, the Federal government now enters a new era of seafood policy where American fishermen will be recognized by USDA as a key part of the U.S. food supply.”
The office will work across multiple federal agencies and alongside the Department of Commerce to support the seafood industry, from boosting production to improving marketing and exports. Officials say itโs part of a broader push tied to President Trumpโs efforts to strengthen U.S. seafood competitiveness.
Lawmakers from coastal states say the move is long overdue. Sen. Susan Collins pointed to the billions of dollars the seafood industry brings in each year, while Sen. Dan Sullivan said the new office helps put fishermen on more equal footing with farmers when it comes to federal support.
In practical terms, the new office will help seafood businesses figure out what programs they qualify for, connect them with funding or assistance, and make sure they arenโt overlooked in federal policy.
The announcement also comes as the U.S. marks 50 years since the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the main law governing fishing in federal waters.
