Oregon, Washington Lawmakers Want USDA To Purchase Pacific Hake

Oregon Senator Jeff Merkley is leading a bipartisan group of Northwest lawmakers in asking the USDA to support the West Coast fishing industry. The lawmakers want the Department to purchase Pacific hake, or whiting, fillets through its Section 32 program, a move they say could help fishermen, seafood processors and distributors weather major disruptions in overseas markets.

The lawmakers say exports of Pacific whiting to Ukraine once reached nearly $95 million a year. But the ongoing war with Russia, trade barriers, competition from lower-cost proteins, inflation and rising operating costs have put added pressure on the industry. They said a federal purchase could help stabilize coastal economies and strengthen the domestic seafood supply chain.

“Over the last several years, the [USDA] has worked with the West Coast seafood industry to support domestic distribution of surplus product and ensure that our food supply chain and fisheries operations aren’t wholly disrupted by fluctuations or complete loss of markets abroad," the letter stated. "We ask the USDA to continue that partnership by addressing these sustained market losses that have created vast economic strains and challenges for our seafood industry.”

The letter was signed by lawmakers from Oregon and Washington. Click Here to read that entire letter.

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