BROWNSVILLE, TEXAS (RFD-TV) — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) recently announced the creation of a new Office of Seafood, aimed at helping seafood producers better access agency programs. The USDA says the office will focus on customer service and make it easier for seafood cultivators, producers, and processors to navigate available resources.
RFD News correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with the Texas Shrimp Association at the Port of Brownsville about what the change could mean. Executive Director Maria Jaross says the group is thrilled for the future resources that will become available to them through this expansion.
“Thrilled. We are so excited. This is a long time coming,” Jaross tells RFD News. “We’ve been asking for this for a long time to have parity with farmers and ranchers and have access to the many programs offered by the USDA.”
Jaross says the seafood industry has historically been regulated under a different system, focused more on fisheries management.
“The seafood industry is governed by the Magnuson-Stevens Act, which mainly covers fisheries, stocks, making sure that everybody is fishing sustainably and that the fish stocks are not diminished,” she explains.
Jaross says the hope is that this new office will help open the door to USDA programs, such as loans and price supports, given low seafood prices and high fuel costs.
“Just open the doors and let us know how to apply for those programs that are going to be offered through the USDA,” she says. “Guaranteed loan programs, price supports, everything that the USDA offers to farmers and ranchers,” Jaross continued, “We would like to see offered to fishermen and shrimpers in particular.”
The Texas Shrimp Association says its goal is to be more fully included in conversations about agriculture moving forward.
Frank McCaffrey reporting for RFD News.
