America First Seafood Strategy: Strengthening U.S. Fisheries, Coastal Economies, and Food Security
By fisheries.noaa.gov, fisheries.noaa.gov.
The United States manages some of the world’s most productive and sustainable fisheries. American commercial fishermen and seafood businesses operate on a foundation of rigorous science-based standards set through decades of fisheries monitoring and careful management. Despite the successful management strategies that have ensured abundance within domestic fisheries for generations, American fishermen have navigated increasingly restrictive regulations, borne rising production costs, and faced insurmountable competition from cheap foreign imports, often procured through illegal fishing practices that cut corners and fail to meet U.S. stringent ethical standards.
President Trump promised to reverse the decline of the U.S. seafood industry and champion the needs of American fishermen. Following the guidance set by the President’s Executive Order on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness, the Trump Administration announced the release of the America First Seafood Strategy, a coordinated federal plan to expand sustainable domestic seafood production, modernize critical infrastructure, improve market opportunities for American harvesters and processors, and ensure fair competition in U.S. and global markets.
The Strategy builds on NOAA’s science-based management foundation by aligning federal research, policy, and existing authorities to increase sustainable harvest opportunities, reduce unnecessary costs, rebuild domestic processing and shoreside capacity, and give American seafood a stronger competitive position.
The plan organizes federal efforts around five interconnected priorities. Together, these pillars aim to deliver measurable benefits for America’s economy and fishing communities: more domestic production and processing, stronger working waterfronts, expanded market access, fairer competition, and greater recognition of seafood’s role in healthy diets and national food security.
American Seafood First: Labeling, Marketing, and Market Access
This pillar focuses on giving American seafood a clearer identity and stronger presence in domestic markets.
Key actions include establishing a voluntary “U.S.-Caught Seafood” designation for products harvested by American commercial fishermen on U.S.-flagged vessels under U.S. fisheries management. The designation complements existing country-of-origin labeling and helps consumers distinguish U.S.-managed seafood from foreign-origin products.
Read the full article here: America First Seafood Strategy: Strengthening U.S. Fisheries, Coastal Economies, and Food Security
