Washington (February 8, 2023) – Senators Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Representatives William Keating (MA-09) and Seth Moulton (MA-06) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) announcement sharing its intent to buy Atlantic haddock, pollock, and perch as part of a $1 billion purchase for emergency food providers through the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). The decision follows advocacy from the Massachusetts delegation, which wrote in December to USDA urging the Department to include East Coast seafood in its purchasing programs, after it failed to purchase surplus Atlantic pollock, haddock, and redfish through the Section 32 program. These purchases will help keep East Coast seafood producers that have been affected by high fuel costs afloat, while providing American families in need with healthy, domestic and sustainable seafood products.

“Our seafood industry produces some of the most sustainable seafood on the planet – it’s nutritious and delicious,” said Senator Markey. “Times have been tough, and I’m proud I could help these fishermen finally get the credit and the compensation they deserve, while also helping families in need enjoy fresh seafood at food banks across America.” 
 
“The Massachusetts seafood industry is a vital contributor to our local economy,” said Senator Warren. “This industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and I’m glad to have worked with the Massachusetts delegation to secure funding to help fishermen while also providing nutritious food to struggling families across the country.”
 
“My colleagues and I have advocated for the inclusion of East Coast seafood in purchases by the USDA for many years, and this announcement is a win for Massachusetts fisheries and for hungry families across the country,” said Congressman Keating. “I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to find innovative ways to support this historic Massachusetts industry while combatting food insecurity.”
 
“Fishing is a vital part of the economy in the North Shore. I am pleased to see the USDA continuing to support our fishermen. These purchases under Section 32 will not only help sustain the Commonwealth's great fishing industry, but will put healthy food on our tables,” said Congressman Moulton.

Massachusetts lawmakers have supported federal purchases of Atlantic seafood, writing to the USDA in April and May 2020 to urge the inclusion of domestic and East Coast seafood companies in the deployment of the $9.5 billion awarded by the CARES Act for affected agricultural producers. This urging was successful, with USDA purchasing $20 million in Atlantic haddock, pollock, and redfish, and helped to sustain this key industry throughout the shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

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