USDA Annouces $530 Million in Aid for U.S. Commercial Fishermen

From a NOAA Press Release: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is making approximately $530 million in aid to U.S. fishermen through the Seafood Trade Relief Program. This program is funded by the Commodity Credit Corporation and administered by the Farm Service Agency.

The program will provide support for domestic commercial fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs. To qualify, they must hold a valid federal or state license or permit. Additionally, their catch must be sold or transferred to a permitted or licensed seafood dealer or by a permitted dealer if the catch is processed at sea. Seafood products grown in a controlled environment are not eligible for the program (except geoducks and salmon).

Payments are based on 2019 landings.

Fishermen can sign up for relief through the program from September 14, 2020 to December 14, 2020.

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CA, MA, OR, and SC are First States to Receive CARES Act Funding

A five page Seafood Source article by Chris Chase states that four states have had their spend plan for the CARES Act funding approved, and are able to disperse their allocated funds.

"California, Massachusetts, Oregon, and South Carolina have had CARES Act spend plans approved by NOAA. Those approvals mean the states will be able access their portions of the USD 300 million (EUR 254 million) they were allocated back in May. A fifth state, Louisiana, is indicated as having funding approval per NOAA Fisheries, but an official with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries told SeafoodSource that as of 12 August, no offical[sic] approval documentation had been seen."

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NOAA: 2019 Report to Congress on the Status of U.S. Fisheries

The NOAA Report to Congress on Status of U.S. Fisheries updates the legislature on how the species and fisheries managed by NOAA and the regional councils are doing, overfishing status, and other issues in the fisheries.  In the report, NOAA states, "Thanks to the combined efforts of NOAA Fisheries, the eight regional fishery management councils, and other partners, the number of stocks on the overfishing list dropped to an all-time low in 2019, while the number of stocks on the overfished list increased slightly. Continuous monitoring and improvement of our knowledge about the status of stocks is key to ongoing sustainable fisheries management under the MSA."

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President Signs New Executive Order Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth

President Trump issued an executive order, to promote American Seafood competitiveness and increase economic growth.  Many of the industry concerns, including I.U.U. fishing, industry support, and reducing cheap and less-vetted seafood imports, are mentioned in the EO.

  The hope of the order is to, " protect our aquatic environments; revitalize our Nation's seafood industry; get more Americans back to work; and put healthy, safe food on our families' tables ."

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Federal Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against NMFS and Gulf of Mexico Net-pen Aquaculture Operation

A National Fisherman article by Kirk Moore discuss the decision of a federal appeals court to uphold, 2-to-1, a 2018 ruling that NMFS does not have the authority to permit offshore aquaculture under the MSA. "The legal challenge was brought by a coalition opposed to expanded Gulf of Mexico aquaculture - specifically net pen fish farming proposed off Florida's west coast - that includes such fishing and environmental groups the Gulf Restoration Network, Alabama Charter Fishing Association, Food & Water Watch, and the Recirculating Farms Coalition that advocates "green" onshore fish production with recycled water."

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