Alaska’s seafood industry is a major part of the state’s economy, producing about $6 billion in economic output and employing 48,000 people. Alaska accounts for around 60% of America’s seafood harvest by volume. The products from these fisheries are among the top three U.S. food and agriculture export categories, with increasing global demand.
Federal regulations have limited the ability of fishermen to harvest seafood, citing issues such as restrictive catch limits and delayed adoption of new technology. There have also been complaints about foreign competition, including unfair trade practices and predatory pricing by non-market economies overseas. Tariff and non-tariff barriers imposed by some allied countries have further impacted U.S. seafood exports.
According to Brooke L. Rollins, U.S. secretary of Agriculture, and Howard Lutnick, secretary of Commerce: “President Trump has already begun fixing the mess he inherited, implementing an America First Seafood Strategy that inspires the industry in Alaska with hope for a more prosperous future.”
During his administration, President Trump issued executive orders focused on promoting American seafood competitiveness and economic growth. In April of this year, he reaffirmed this commitment through an executive order titled “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” This order aims to promote productive seafood harvests, reduce regulatory burdens on commercial fishermen, address illegal fishing practices, and protect domestic markets from unfair foreign trade practices.
Rollins and Lutnick stated: “The One Big Beautiful Bill that President Trump signed into law this summer helps usher in this new era, benefiting the Alaska seafood industry like never before. In addition to maintaining small business deductions that promote local economic growth, it streamlined federal environmental reviews and doubled USDA’s investment in trade promotion program funding.”
USDA purchases a variety of Alaska seafood products to support domestic nutrition programs and provide market support for the sector. By the end of this year, USDA expects to purchase approximately 66 million pounds of Alaskan pollock products—including up to $100 million under Section 32—marking the largest single purchase ever authorized by that program.
“These purchases not only benefit the charitable feeding network fostered by USDA’s nutrition assistance programs,” Rollins and Lutnick said, “but they also help secure the enduring stability of the U.S. seafood supply chain.”
USDA works with other federal agencies to facilitate trade agreements aimed at improving market access for American seafood producers. Its Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) provides promotional funding for expanding exports into emerging global markets.
“Now is the time to ensure that healthy, competitive, and sustainable fisheries in Alaska can produce an abundant, safe, and affordable supply of products,” wrote Rollins and Lutnick. “The success of this industry will fuel rural prosperity and safeguard our national security for years to come.”
They concluded: “We are eager to continue working with the president, our fellow cabinet members, and industry leaders to secure more wins for the Alaska seafood industry, which are wins for the American people.”
