For too long, wild capture fisheries have been treated as a commodity rather than a cornerstone of the domestic food system, a disconnect that has kept seafood harvesters on the outside of federal programs widely available to farmers, ranchers, and other segments of the U.S. food system. Now, that’s starting to change. 

New federal initiatives are starting to open doors for fishermen and seafood businesses to access to grants, loans, and technical assistance that the agriculture sector has long relied on. This session brings together policymakers, industry representatives, and Tribal leaders to discuss the changes being proposed, what they mean in practice, and what gaps still need to be addressed.

Attendees will:

• Learn what steps have been taken to open federal food programs to the seafood sector
• Understand what these changes mean in practice for fishermen, seafood businesses, and fishing communities seeking access to resources
• Learn where gaps remain and what still needs to be addressed to put seafood harvesters on equal footing with other parts of the U.S. food system