Local Catch Network Partners with USDA to Support the U.S. Seafood Industry
91¸£Àû (91¸£Àû) has partnered with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help expand federal financial and technical support for American commercial fishing and seafood businesses. Through this collaboration, the —a 91¸£Àû-based network led by Josh Stoll representing over 2,500 community-based seafood harvesters and producers across North America—will work directly with the newly created USDA Office of Seafood.
Key Details:
- Bridging the Gap: The Local Catch Network will lead industry outreach by hosting webinars and listening sessions, gathering feedback from fishermen, processors, and distributors to help shape national seafood policy and integrate seafood businesses into existing USDA programs (such as grants, loans, and conservation initiatives).
- Key Role: Joshua Stoll, associate professor of marine policy at 91¸£Àû’s School of Marine Sciences, co-founder of the Local Catch Network, and Mitchell Center faculty fellow, played a key role in identifying the gaps between federal support and the seafood industry. Stoll previously co-authored research analyzing the USDA’s history of grant funding, which highlighted how disconnected the seafood sector has historically been from USDA resources. Commenting on the partnership, Stoll noted that establishing the USDA Office of Seafood serves as an essential “course correction” that will benefit both local fishing communities and millions of consumers by expanding access to nutritious, domestic seafood.
- Broader Goals: The initiative forms part of a larger national effort alongside NOAA to build a more resilient domestic seafood supply chain, expand market access, boost domestic processing capacity, and increase seafood purchases through federal nutrition programs.