In August 2023, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released a new plan to increase support and technology for the U.S. seafood industry. This plan is meant to strengthen the sector against competition from illegal fishing and challenges caused by climate change.
Understanding how this plan will affect companies operating within this industry will be critical to strategy and growth over the five-year lifespan of the plan and beyond. Now is an ideal time to speak with your environmental law attorneys for guidance on interpreting and preparing for the plan’s expected benefits and impact.
Synopsis of the NOAA Fisheries National Seafood Strategy
Known as the NOAA Fisheries National Seafood Strategy, this program is the first of its kind, developed with many rounds of stakeholder input. This strategy iterates the Biden-Harris Administration’s dedication to supporting the goals of the seafood industry on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and economic recovery.
The plan also outlines responses to aging infrastructure, illegal fishing tactics in U.S. waters, and labor shortages in the industry. The main goals are to enhance and grow the seafood industry through modernization, increased aquaculture production, expanded access to U.S. and global markets, and enhanced wild capture production.
The National Seafood Strategy aims to assist harvesters, fleet owners, processors, and brokers in the industry in recovering from the effects of climate change, the pandemic, and a changing workforce. With increases in production capability, the sector can support current and new jobs, as well as the recent recommendation from the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health highlighting a need for more seafood consumption.
Four Main Goals of the National Seafood Strategy
Ultimately, the National Seafood Strategy is focused on rebuilding, revitalizing, and improving all aspects of the seafood industry in the United States. It has four main goals, supported by multiple plans and agency intersections, that will guide its actions over the next five years:
- Maintain or increase sustainable U.S. wild capture production
- Increase sustainable U.S. aquaculture production
- Foster access to domestic and global markets for the U.S. seafood industry
- Strengthen the entire U.S. seafood sector
The strategy will also include steps to work with tribal fishing populations to enhance their access and interactions with commercial fishing entities.
Challenges to the Industry Driving the Strategy
Several significant factors are contributing to concerns about future success in the U.S. seafood industry. Techniques and infrastructure that have been in use for decades may no longer support the expected growth in demand over the coming years.
Some of the most critical challenges that drove the National Seafood Strategy are:
Climate Change
NOAA recognizes the damage already underway to the seafood industry from warming oceans and changing weather patterns. Large-scale natural weather events, such as hurricanes and current changes, are difficult to predict. As a result, the administration is requesting an increase of $78,222,000 in its 2024 fiscal budget to build a Climate-Ready Nation.
In addition to collecting data about the effects of climate change, the strategy will improve tools and services that support industry participants. In communities such as the Arctic and Northwest fishing grounds, climate events are changing where catch populations are located, as well as the size and composition of various species. In addition, ships and processing facilities are struggling to maintain production as they age in a changing environment.
COVID-19 Pandemic
As with many sectors of the global and U.S. economy, the seafood industry experienced a substantial decrease in all aspects of the supply chain and markets. Without workers, vessels and processing plants lay dormant, and company finances suffered. Although most businesses have returned to previous production goals, the loss of workforce and momentum has had a massive effect.
The strategy aims to return full access to traditional seafood sources and rebuild the market for industry products in the U.S. and across the world. Over the initial five years, the program will institute measures to help the industry regain its pre-COVID status and address long-term opportunities.
New Technologies
NOAA is planning over $81 million of efforts to build a New Blue Economy. This includes the development and application of new technologies, including offshore wind energy. It will also address how to resolve potential conflicts regarding the need for ocean space by both fishing fleets and wind farms.
There will also be money focused on improving and unifying the Tsunami Warning Centers in the Pacific Ocean to reduce consequences to infrastructure both onshore and on the water. The strategy will also investigate the development and implementation of a satellite-based situational awareness system to inform civil and commercial fishing vessels of critical weather information.
Labor Shortages
In addition to losing workers to illness and death during the pandemic, NOAA is requesting $9 million in its 2024 budget to improve outreach to new demographics who are underrepresented in the seafood industry. This money will also be used for training and education of existing workers, with an emphasis on environmental concerns and considerations of vulnerable communities.
Aging Infrastructure
The ships, processing plants, and distribution systems for getting seafood from the water to the consumer’s table are aging quickly. The ravages of 24/7/365 use and exposure to corrosive environments mean vessels and equipment need rebuilding or replacement. While this represents a significant investment for most companies, the costs to long-term profit goals cannot be ignored.
The NOAA strategy includes efforts to work with additional federal agencies with the goal of modernizing the entire seafood infrastructure, from hatcheries to waterfront operations, to increase productivity and efficiency. Building additional infrastructure that incorporates high-speed internet, more automated processing, and improved storage facilities will benefit every stage of the supply chain.
Learn More About How the National Seafood Strategy Will Affect Your Company’s Future
The National Seafood Strategy is an exciting opportunity to revisit your business’s goals and challenges in light of the projected changes and funding. If you’d like to learn more about the impact this plan could have on your company’s policies and future business relationships, schedule a meeting with the law firm of Williams Kastner.
Our business law attorneys have been serving the Pacific Northwest since 1929, expanding to a global reach in the modern day. We are here to guide you through litigation, contracts, and other aspects of working in the seafood industry.