Congress works to provide greater opportunities for seafood producers
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2026
Contact: Rick Osborn, Oregon Coast Visitors Association
541-908-6384
rick@blueridgestrategies.net
TILLAMOOK – Federal legislation being considered in Congress is expected to open doors of opportunity for the United States seafood industry, making it more competitive on the national and international stages.
These moves at the federal level are expected to bolster local seafood harvest, processing and profitability in sustainable ways. A few years ago, a study commissioned by the Oregon Coast Visitors Association found that 90 percent of the seafood sold in Western Oregon isn’t from local waters. Since then, OCVA has been working to build out local infrastructure and value chain to create opportunities for greater economic benefit on the Oregon Coast.
As part of the Farm, Food and National Security Act of 2026, Congress is creating the United States Department of Agriculture Office of Seafood – a first-of-its-kind office – to prioritize customer service and ease of navigation for American seafood cultivators, producers and processors to access programs. Integrating fishers into USDA programs and working alongside the United States Department of Commerce and other federal partners is expected to revitalize the American seafood industry.
The Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act – the primary law governing marine fisheries in United States federal waters – was signed into law 50 years ago. It provided the fishing industry with long-term economic stability, but for years fishermen across the country have been struggling to navigate programs at USDA that can help them support their businesses.
The USDA Seafood Office will assist with developing the America First Seafood Strategy, promoting production, marketing, sales and export of fishery and aquaculture products, while strengthening domestic processing capacity. The American Seafood Competitiveness Act also will allow commercial fishers and processors access to USDA loans, grants and credit services that historically have been reserved only for land-based farmers.
Further legislation – the Buy American Seafood Act – will require federal agencies to procure seafood domestically for child nutrition and other programs. Directing American harvested and produced seafood to school cafeterias and federal nutrition programs will create a reliable, meaningful market for fishers all over the country. Local leaders and seafood business owners applaud USDA’s Office of Seafood with widespread support.
“The creation of the USDA Office of Seafood is exactly the kind of bold, coordinated action our fishing communities have needed for years,” Oregon State Senator Dick Anderson, R-Lincoln City, said.
Anderson’s district includes Newport, one of Oregon’s largest fishing ports, as well as Coos Bay. He also acknowledged that there is a huge disparity of foreign imports flooding local markets. Restrictions such as low catch limits, inaccurate and outdated fisheries data and delayed adoption of modern technology have prohibited Oregon’s fishing economy from fully realizing its huge economic potential.
“As large and important as Oregon’s fishing industry already is, we must also recognize the tremendous, untapped potential ahead of us,” Oregon State Senator Suzanne Weber, R-Tillamook, said.
These moves will deliver far more than simply economic benefits. These developments also can help lead to healthier protein sources being served to children across the nation in schools. More local seafood consumption can help reduce the global import of seafood to communities all over the country. By sourcing more food locally, carbon emissions will be reduced, children will be healthier and more American fishers and processors will be able to prosper.
“This isn’t just about economy,” OCVA Executive Director Marcus Hinz said. “It’s also about reducing carbon emissions and improving public health. When we harvest and export so much of our local seafood, those planes literally are passing the ones importing seafood from all over the world to be sold and served in our communities. That’s not sustainable and it doesn’t make any sense. It also creates greater opportunities for us to put fresh, local seafood – one of the healthiest protein options we have – in front of more children. That will lead to healthier kids and better outcomes in education. There is so much about this initiative to like.”
The legislation has been proposed in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate. The bill has passed in the House and negotiations currently are underway in the Senate to finish the legislation.
About the Oregon Ocean Cluster
Oregon’s seafood often goes directly from harvest to plane, bypassing Oregon communities. Keeping more local seafood local enhances the environment, economic development, public health, and human rights.
The Oregon Ocean Cluster is working to shift this dynamic and make local seafood easier to find and buy through investments in workforce training, shared infrastructure, cooperative marketing, and regional funding.
