October is National Seafood Month, and NOAA Fisheries is encouraging consumers to choose American seafood in recognition of the fishermen, seafood farmers, and businesses that help feed the nation and sustain coastal economies.
In a recent message, NOAA Fisheries Assistant Administrator Eugenio Piñeiro Soler emphasized the importance of strengthening domestic seafood production and improving the industry’s ability to compete in global markets. He highlighted the United States’ science-based fisheries management system as a foundation for sustainable seafood production, while acknowledging the need for continued improvements.
NOAA Fisheries is pursuing regulatory modernization, improved fisheries data collection, expanded cooperative research with fishermen, and efforts to address market imbalances. The agency is also emphasizing the potential of marine aquaculture to expand domestic seafood supplies, support economic development, and strengthen the resilience of working waterfronts.
For the U.S. seafood industry, these priorities underscore the importance of policies that support domestic producers, improve market competitiveness, and expand opportunities for both wild-capture fisheries and aquaculture. Greater consumer awareness of American seafood can also help reinforce demand for domestically produced products.