Fishing Communities Coalition applauds USDA Seafood Office announcement
New seafood focus signals growing recognition of fishermen as essential contributors to America’s food system and rural economies
National Fisheries Update | April 15, 2026 — The Fishing Communities Coalition (FCC), a national alliance representing commercial fishing organizations coast-to-coast, responded today to the Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins’s announcement of the establishment of the Office of Seafood at the US Department of Agriculture.
“For the first time ever, the US Department of Agriculture will have an office and a team fully dedicated to advancing, to honoring, to elevating and to supporting our great farmers of the sea,” said Secretary Rollins, “and what a joy it is to be able to lead on that.”
This development is the culmination of years of work from fisheries and seafood advocates, including the members of the Fishing Communities Coalition and the more than one thousand fishing businesses they represent nationwide.
“FCC extends a sincere thank you to the leadership that brought us to this point,” said Ben Martens, Executive Director of the Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association. “USDA Secretary Rollins and Department of Commerce Secretary Lutnick set the stage today for a new era of cross-agency, federal collaboration around U.S. food systems. Fisheries champions in Congress have worked for years to bring these topics to the forefront. We thank Senators Collins, Murray, Murkowski, Sullivan and the many other elected officials who carried the torch on this important work.”
The FCC has been a strong advocate for the establishment of the Office of Seafood and the Seafood Liaison at USDA. Today’s announcement comes as FCC’s fisheries leaders gather in Washington, D.C. this week to meet with Congressional offices and federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Agriculture — to advance policies that strengthen domestic seafood production, working waterfronts, and coastal economies.
“Commercial fishermen are highly resourceful entrepreneurs who want to make investments in their businesses and coastal communities,” said John Pappalardo, CEO of the Cape Cod Commercial Fishermen’s Alliance. “Because they often struggle to obtain traditional financing, support from the USDA can turn their ideas into reality. I know a captain who used a grant to help triple his workforce and launch a new product.”
A Critical Moment for Fishing Communities
This week also marks the 50th anniversary of the Magnuson-Stevens Act, the cornerstone of U.S. fisheries management.
“For five decades, the Magnuson-Stevens Act has helped ensure sustainable fisheries and strong coastal economies,” said Linda Behnken, an Alaskan commercial fisherman and Executive Director of the Alaska Longline Fishermen’s Association. “This anniversary is a powerful reminder that good policy works — and that continued federal investment is essential to keeping fishing communities viable for the next 50 years. This inclusion within USDA programs is an incredible step toward that bright future.”
Across the country, small-scale, community-based fishing businesses make up 97% of the industry and provide seafood to every state in the nation, yet they have historically received a fraction of federal food system investment.
From 2018–2023, for instance, USDA invested over $31 billion in food systems programs — but less than 1% went to seafood. Of that, an even smaller fraction went to wild harvest seafood. Today’s announcement marks a commitment to expanding those opportunities.
Expanding Access and Opportunity
FCC emphasized that meaningful inclusion in and representation at the USDA can unlock significant benefits for coastal communities. Access to grants, loans, and risk management tools keep small fishing businesses and their communities resilient through shifting markets and fishery stocks. Investment in working waterfront infrastructure and local processing capacity helps harvesters maintain access to valuable seafood supply chains. Expanding domestic seafood in nutrition programs and food procurement provides critical nutrition access, and workforce development programs help to nurture the next generation of fishermen and seafood professionals. These are all tools that already exist within the USDA’s work with farmers and ranchers.
“America’s fishing communities are essential to our nation’s food security, economic resilience, and cultural identity,” said Eric Brazer, Deputy Director of the Gulf of America Reef Fish Shareholders’ Alliance. “We are encouraged to see USDA recognizing the role of fishermen alongside farmers and ranchers in building a stronger, more resilient food system. When fishermen can access the same tools as other food producers, we invest back into our businesses, our crews, and our communities.”
Building a More Complete American Food System
FCC highlighted the importance of continued progress, including:
Fully integrating seafood into USDA grant, credit, and nutrition programs
Supporting market development and domestic supply chains
Major investments in seafood processing infrastructure, particularly smaller scale operations, and in rural communities
Recognizing fishing communities as critical components of rural America
“Fishermen are the original leaders for America’s food system,” Martens. “Here in Maine and across the nation we have a rich fishing history – centuries of making a living and feeding communities from American waters. Including seafood in USDA programs isn’t just good policy — it’s common sense.”
Looking Ahead
FCC and its members will continue engaging with policymakers and federal agencies to ensure that fishing communities are fully included in national strategies for food security, economic development, and domestic production. The FCC has pioneered the development of the American Seafood Competitiveness Act, which would expand eligibility for key USDA programs to fishing and seafood businesses. With this legislation, the Office of Seafood would be strengthened and empowered to provide significant opportunities to fishing communities and businesses around the country.