NOAA Fisheries released the draft National Seafood Strategy, which aims to enhance the resilience of the seafood sector in the face of climate change, the coronavirus pandemic, labor shortages and aging infrastructure.
The strategy is aligned with the Biden-Harris administration's goals for economic recovery, environmental sustainability and climate resilience, according to a Feb. 14 NOAA Fisheries news release.
“Public comments are integral to finalizing the strategy and helping guide the direction of our work to support the seafood sector,” according to the release.
The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health highlights the need for increased seafood consumption in the U.S., which the strategy addresses, the release reported.
The National Seafood Strategy sets out a vision to ensure U.S. seafood is produced sustainably, contributes to the nation's climate-ready food production and critical nutritional needs, supports jobs and the economy, increases U.S. seafood production, modernizes supply chains and infrastructure and expands opportunities for a diverse and growing seafood workforce, according to the release.
The strategy has four main goals: sustain 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; and strengthen the entire U.S. seafood sector, the release reported.
The National Seafood Strategy responds to unprecedented challenges facing the U.S. seafood industry and outlines NOAA’s direction for supporting a thriving domestic U.S. seafood economy, according to the release. NOAA encourages all interested members of the public to review the draft and submit comments. The strategy emphasizes the importance of seafood sector resilience and its contribution to economic recovery, environmental sustainability and climate resilience.
