NOAA Fisheries has introduced its Implementation Plan for the U.S.’s first National Seafood Strategy, designed to strengthen the domestic seafood sector. The plan focuses on four key goals: maintaining or increasing sustainable wild-capture production, boosting U.S. aquaculture production, expanding access to domestic and global markets, and enhancing the overall seafood industry.
To achieve these goals, NOAA is taking steps such as modeling the effects of climate change on fisheries and promoting the commercial use of underutilized species. Collaboration with other agencies, governments, and industry stakeholders is central to the plan’s success.
The agency is also launching four pilot initiatives, focusing on resilience in specific areas such as Alaska seafood and shrimp industries in the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic. The plan is intended to be adaptable and will be updated based on feedback from industry and partners.
NOAA Fisheries’ highlighted four goals in the implementation plan, including:
- Maintaining or increasing sustainable wild-capture production;
- Increasing sustainable U.S. aquaculture production;
- Fostering access to domestic and global markets for the U.S. seafood industry; and
- strengthening the entire U.S. seafood sector.