USDA Launches Seafood Office

Wednesday was an exciting day for the aquaculture industry nationwide.

“For the first time in a long time, commercial fishermen are being recognized for what we truly are, food producers,” noted Maine Lobster Fisher Dustin Delano Wednesday at USDA’s headquarters in D.C.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced the launch of the USDA Office of Seafood.  She noted the Department has been working on this launch for eight months, and this will provide avenue for fishers of all species access USDA programs to support their industry.

“Everything from crop protection tools to prioritizing seafood on the international stage. When you think about it in the context of the Make America Healthy Again movement and what this particular industry means for making America healthy again, all of those come into play," Rollins said.  "I was a little startled that USDA has never had an office for seafood. We've never had an advocate for seafood for all of the programs that are at USDA, all of them from beginning farmers and ranchers to risk mitigation when there's weather incidents, etc. Now all of that is on the table.”

Rollins noted the new office will coordinate with the Commerce Department to promote, market, sell, and export U.S. aquaculture products.

Click Here to learn more about the USDA's Office of Seafood.

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