Big things are happening in the world of American seafood, and this time it is good news for wild caught fish and the people who harvest it. Congress just approved new measures that give U.S. seafood a stronger voice in Washington and put more focus on where the seafood in federal programs comes from. For those of us who care about wild Alaska seafood and well managed U.S. fisheries, this is a big step in the right direction.
What Congress just approved
According to reporting from SeafoodSource, in a recent funding bill, Congress created a new seafood industry liaison position within the United States Department of Agriculture. That might sound technical, but it matters. For years, farmers and ranchers have had dedicated support inside USDA. Now, American fishermen, processors and coastal communities will have someone at the table speaking directly for seafood too.
The same bill also blocks certain Chinese seafood from being used in the National School Lunch Program and other federal food programs. Lawmakers are responding to concerns about supply chains, food safety and transparency, and prioritizing higher quality, traceable seafood for kids in U.S. schools.
Why this matters for Alaska and the Pacific Northwest
Wild Alaskan seafood is harvested in some of the most carefully managed fisheries in the world. Alaska is the only state that writes sustainable fisheries into its constitution, and American harvesters operate under strict science based rules on seasons, quotas and bycatch.
Having a seafood liaison inside USDA helps make sure those realities are understood when federal programs, grants and purchasing decisions are made. It also opens the door for more support for working waterfronts, processing jobs and small seafood businesses in places like Alaska and the Pacific Northwest.
The move to keep Chinese seafood out of school lunch programs highlights another important point. Not all seafood is produced under the same rules. Imported products can pass through multiple countries, with reprocessing and repacking along the way. U.S. seafood is harvested and handled under much tighter oversight, which means better traceability and more confidence in what is actually on the plate.
What this means for Premier Catch customers
If you already choose wild U.S. seafood, this news backs up what you have cared about all along. When you buy wild Alaskan salmon, halibut, black cod, cod or crab from Premier Catch, you are supporting American fishing families and coastal communities that rely on healthy, well managed fisheries.
We source directly from trusted fishermen and processors in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, then flash freeze at peak freshness so you get clean, high quality seafood at home. The changes in Washington do not change how we operate, but they do send a clear signal that wild U.S. seafood deserves more federal support and recognition. That is good for our partners on the water and, ultimately, for you.
Looking ahead
The seafood liaison role is still new, and we will learn more in the months ahead about how it will function and which programs it will influence. Industry groups have been pushing for this kind of representation for a long time, so getting it in place is a meaningful win.
Combined with tighter rules around imported seafood in federal food programs, this moment feels like a reset toward stronger domestic seafood and clearer sourcing. We are hopeful it leads to more investment in U.S. fisheries, better opportunities for fishing families and more awareness of the value of wild Alaskan seafood.
We will keep watching how this develops. In the meantime, every time you choose wild, traceable seafood from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, you are part of this story too.
