91福利 partners with USDA to expand federal support for US seafood industry
Local Catch Network will lead outreach, co-host informational sessions and gather industry input to help shape national seafood strategy.
American fishermen, aquaculture producers, processors and seafood businesses now have a path for improved access to federal funding, technical assistance and new markets through a national collaboration involving the , based at the University of Maine.
An agreement between the and 91福利 enables the network to help the recently created connect with fishing communities and better integrate seafood businesses into federal programs and services.
The Local Catch Network will lead industry outreach, host educational webinars and listening sessions, and gather recommendations from seafood harvesters, processors and distributors. The collaboration is intended to strengthen domestic seafood production and processing, support coastal economies and make more American seafood available to consumers.
Established in 2011, the Local Catch Network supports local and community-based seafood systems through technical assistance, business development, research and knowledge exchange. Its more than 2,500 members represent fishing communities across North America.
The network鈥檚 growth and capacity have been supported in part by $2 million in congressionally directed spending secured in 2022 by U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
鈥淒espite 50 years of progress and recognition that aquatic and marine foods make important contributions to the food and nutrition needs of the nation, ,鈥 said Joshua Stoll, Local Catch Network co-founder and associate professor of marine policy in the School of Marine Sciences. 鈥淭he Office of Seafood has the potential to be an important course correction that would not only benefit fishing communities and seafood harvesters but also the millions of Americans who stand to gain from the benefits of increasing access to some of the nation鈥檚 most nutritious and delicious foods.鈥
Association when she was the general manager of the New Hampshire Community Seafood. The organization, which trains greenhorns and deckhands to take the next
step in their fishing careers, was funded in part by a USDA grant. Credit: Yankee Fishermen鈥檚 Cooperative
Connecting seafood businesses with USDA programs
The USDA Office of Seafood was announced April 15 following President Donald Trump鈥檚 executive order, 鈥淩estoring American Seafood Competitiveness,鈥 and the passage of federal appropriations legislation.
The office is responsible for coordinating seafood-related work across USDA agencies and helping fishermen and seafood businesses access grants, loans, conservation programs and other services. Its creation marked the first time USDA had established an office focused exclusively on seafood.
Through the agreement, the Local Catch Network will host virtual webinars describing USDA programs available to seafood harvesters, processors and distributors. It will also organize listening sessions where industry members can share concerns, expectations and ideas directly with the Office of Seafood.
鈥淔ollowing the initial announcement of the Office of Seafood, the USDA received hundreds of direct inquiries from domestic seafood harvesters seeking clarity on program eligibility and calling for a targeted seafood marketing strategy,鈥 said Michael Illenberg, interim director of the Office of Seafood. 鈥淭his new agreement directly addresses those needs, serving as a pivotal step to fully integrate seafood harvesting, processing, and distribution into existing USDA programs and services.鈥
Bringing industry voices into federal strategy
A national trade panel at the 2026 Pacific Marine Expo in Seattle will provide another opportunity for federal officials to engage with commercial harvesters, seafood businesses and other industry leaders. The network will compile the feedback from these activities into a report outlining the seafood sector鈥檚 priorities and recommendations.
鈥淭his collaboration helps ensure that industry voices remain at the heart of the America First Seafood Strategy, setting clear expectations for support while building a competitive, fair and resilient future for American seafood producers,鈥 said Jessica Gribbon Joyce, Local Catch Network program manager.
USDA is also working with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other federal agencies to develop a broader national seafood strategy. The effort aims to increase domestic processing capacity, promote U.S. fishery and aquaculture products, educate consumers about the health benefits of seafood and increase seafood purchases through federal nutrition programs.
Serving the seafood sector
The agreement expands 91福利鈥檚 role in supporting the national seafood sector. As Maine鈥檚 land-grant university, 91福利 contributes expertise in marine science, fisheries, aquaculture, seafood processing, workforce development and coastal community engagement.
Stoll and researchers from the Alaska Longline Fishermen鈥檚 Association previously examined USDA鈥檚 history of grant funding for the seafood sector. Their analysis helped document gaps in federal support and demonstrate the need to incorporate seafood businesses more fully into USDA programs.
鈥淭he USDA and NOAA play an important role in building a resilient seafood sector. Combining access to USDA funding with NOAA鈥檚 regulatory oversight offers our fishing communities an opportunity to expand domestic and global access to some of the best seafood on the planet at a critical inflection point for many community-based fishing businesses,鈥 said Elizabeth Dubovsky, strategy director for the Alaska Longline Fishermen鈥檚 Association and a co-author of the USDA funding analysis.
Interested parties can sign up for notifications of these Office of Seafood events, outreach, and reports hosted by .
Contact: Jessica Hathaway, jessica.hathaway@maine.edu