Office Of Seafood Will Assist A Variety Of Producers

While the title for USDA's new agency is Office of Seafood, Aquaculture of all kinds have also been included in this effort.

"The great thing about this office is it will be comprehensive for the folks that are farming finfish, shellfish, and seaweeds, and also harvesting them from our open waters," said Caird Rexroad is the National Program Leader at ARS.  "USDA has had a relationship with the folks that are farming freshwater species for a long time.  So, to have have an office that will be the one-stop shop for all of these folks. I think is extremely powerful.”

The Office of Seafood connecting the aquaculture industry with various USDA programs and resources from marketing, technical support, and research.

“We've covered catfish, trout, salmon, hybrid striped bass, tilapia, shrimp, any others," Rexroad noted.  "But now, to take a more broad perspective at the department and include all of the species, irregardless of how they're produced or harvested across aquaculture or fisheries.” 

Rexroad added this new office as been an effort by the industry for some time, and will allow producers to better connect with the tools and resources available through ARS and other USDA programs.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com