Seafood Resources
Providing research for resilient communities
This page provides information and resources to the U.S. seafood industry – both wild harvest and aquaculture. While content is currently focused on challenges related to COVID-19, it is our hope that this page will serve as a valuable resource to the U.S. seafood industry well into the future.
We appreciate your comments and suggestions on how to improve this page, including suggestions for news, updates and additional materials.To do so, please access the Google comment form below or you can also provide input via email (oar.hq.sg.aquaculture@noaa.gov).
Page last updated March 29, 2023
Information for Seafood professionals
Non-COVID-19 specific resources:
The Sea Grant Research, Education and Engagement plan (Link) provides the results of a Sea Grant-supported Great Lakes and marine aquaculture research, education, and engagement needs assessment, helping to identify stakeholder needs that are appropriate for Sea Grant investments.
NOAA Fisheries’ Guide to Permitting Marine Aquaculture in the United States (Link) assists individuals with navigating the federal permitting process for marine aquaculture for finfish, shellfish, invertebrates and seaweed.
Check out Sea Grant seafood-related job openings like Fisheries and Aquaculture Extension Associate with Minnesota Sea Grant, Postdoctoral Associate in Aquaculture Research and Extension with New Hampshire Sea Grant, and Fisheries Specialist or Aquaculture Specialist with Washington Sea Grant.
- NOAA recently published its first-ever 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture to guide the agency’s work from 2023-2028. The plan, developed in coordination with Sea Grant, lays out a framework to support a thriving, resilient and inclusive U.S. aquaculture industry as part of a resilient seafood sector. Learn more here.
- Maryland Sea Grant, with support from the National Sea Grant Office, has developed an online spreadsheet tool for oyster aquaculture. This tool will allow you to input assumptions for an operation, run a Monte Carlo analysis, and generate reports based on user inputs. Information entered into the online tool is not saved. Links to the tool and a short instructional PDF can be found here.
- Tip: Once you get to the model page, you should click the “Model” option at the top. Then choose new or open (if you have saved a version to your local machine). If you are using a mobile device there should be 3 lines to the top right which will show the model option.
- Sea Grant welcomes new seafood resources hires (download contact list), including:
- Alyssa Campbell, Delaware Sea Grant
- Sarisha Boodoo, Florida Sea Grant
- Elizabeth Robinson, Louisiana Sea Grant
- Annie Fagan, Maine Sea Grant
- Manal Murangi, Maryland Sea Grant
- Barry Udelson, New York Sea Grant
- Arun Venugopalan, Woods Hole Sea Grant
- PDFs of presentations from Sea Grant’s National Aquaculture Symposia (held in Fall 2021) are now available on this page.
- The latest information on the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program, EIDL, and SVO Grant Program can be found here.
- Check out Sea Grant’s COVID-19 rapid response investments to support the U.S. aquaculture industry. See the interactive story map on recent developments for COVID-19 restoration aquaculture projects.
Federal
- NOAA Fisheries Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (Link)
- USDA Coronavirus (COVID-19) Update (Link)
- USDA Immediate Acceptance of Electronically Signed Live Animal Export Health Certificates (PDF)
- FDA Food Safety and COVID-19 FAQs (Link)
- SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resource (Link)
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program (Link)
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
- National Sea Grant Law Center COVID-19 Resources (including information on the CARES Act) (Link)
- National Sea Grant Law Center CARES Act Tip Sheet for Self-Employed Individuals (PDF)
- National Sea Grant Fisheries Extension Network COVID-19 Resources Page (Link)
- Industry Associations
- National Aquaculture Association (Link)
- East Coast Shellfish Growers Association (Link)
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (Link)
- Oyster South (Link)
- U.S. Aquaculture Society COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- Local Catch Network Webinar on Resources for the Fishing Industry During COVID-19 (Link)
State
- Alaska Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- California Sea Grant Response (Link)
- Connecticut Sea Grant Response (Link)
- Comprehensive Review of Connecticut Aquaculture Laws (Link)
- Delaware Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- Florida Sea Grant Overview of Selected Disaster Assistance Programs (Link)
- Florida Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources for Shellfish Growers (Link)
- Louisiana Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association Pandemic Resources (Link)
- Maryland Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Response (Link)
- Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Legal Program COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- MIT Sea Grant Seafood Resources (Link)
- New Hampshire Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- New York Sea Grant Seafood Industry Resources (Link)
- North Carolina Sea Grant’s COVID-19 Resource Hub (Link)
- Texas Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- Virginia Sea Grant Fisheries, Aquaculture and Charter Boat Industries Resources (Link)
- VT and OSU COVID-19 Impacts on U.S. Aquaculture Analysis Report (Link)
- Washington Sea Grant Resources for Shellfish Industry (Link)
- Washington Sea Grant Resources for Seafood Industry (Link)
- Woods Hole Sea Grant COVID-19 Resources (Link)
Aid and Relief Assistance Programs
National
- National Sea Grant Law Center COVID-19 Resources (including information on the CARES Act) (Link)
- National Aquaculture Association/NOAA Sea Grant Webinar: Aquaculture Farm Financial Management During the Pandemic (Link)
- Farm Credit East Webinar: Paycheck Protection Program: Insight into program basics and how your business may qualify (Link)
- Farm Credit East Webinar: What the tax and payroll provisions of the Families First Coronavirus Response Act & CARES Act mean for your business (Link)
- SBA Small Business Guidance & Loan Resource (Link)
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program (Link)
- SBA Paycheck Protection Program Fact Sheet (PDF)
- SBA International Trade Loan (Link)
- EDA Revolving Loan Fund Program (Link)
- U.S. Chamber of Commerce Resources to Help Your Small Business Survive the Coronavirus (Link)
- CDC COVID-19 Resources for Businesses and Employers (Link)
- NOAA’s Fisheries Finance Program for Fisheries and Aquaculture (Link)
- U.S. Economic Development Administration Resources (Link)
- U.S. Aquaculture Society COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- USDA COVID-19 Federal Rural Resource Guide (PDF)
- NOAA Fisheries’ Guide to Federal Aquaculture Grant Services (Link)
- USDA Disaster Resiliency and Recovery Resources Guide (Link)
State
- See above pages under News and Updates
- California Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development COVID-19 Resources (Link)
- California IBank Small Business Loan Guarantee Program (Link)
- California Treasurer’s Office Small Business Loan Program (Link)
- Florida Sea Grant Overview of Selected Disaster Assistance Programs (Link)
- Florida Business Damage Assessment Survey (Link)
Human Health Resources
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Resources:
- Coping with Stress During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Link)
- Taking Care of Your Behavioral Health During an Infectious Disease Outbreak (Link)
- How To Cope With Sheltering in Place (Link)
- Talking with Children: Tips for Caregivers, Parents and Teachers During Infectious Disease Outbreaks (Link)
Additional Resources:
University of Florida: Managing Stress During a Pandemic (Webinar Recording)
Peer Listener Training Manual from Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant
The current pandemic has shifted the way we work and recreate. These changes have caused increased levels of stress, isolation and anxiety. Sea Grant is offering Peer Listening training to improve listening skills to support members of the community and serve as a bridge between disaster survivors and formal mental health services. The Peer Listening Training consists of four modules: (1) Defining disasters, (2) Listening skills, (3) Recognizing common symptoms and (4) Seeking and providing support. To learn more about the program, watch a video of the Part 1 training or download the Peer Listener Training Manual go to http://masgc.org/peer-listening/training.
Processing, Marketing
and Distribution Resources
General
- National Fisherman Directory of Seafood Suppliers (Link)
List of local and domestic sources of wild American seafood available to be shipped or picked up locally. Continuing to accept submissions from companies. - In a Half Shell National Directory of Oysters for Home Delivery or Pick-Up (Link)
This site maintains a list of oyster producers who are providing oysters to consumers nationally, regionally and locally. See their FAQs for how to include your oyster business in the list. - East Coast Shellfish Growers Association Directory of Shellfish Growers/Dealers (Link)
- Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association Directory of Shellfish Growers/Dealers (Link)
- Sea Grant Extension Assembly Seafood Direct Marketing Webinar (Link)
- Market Your Catch (Link)
This website on alternative marketing of catch is intended to serve as a resource for West Coast fishermen. It also may be useful to fishermen elsewhere and others interested in seafood alternative markets. - New York Sea Grant Seafood Marketing Resources (Link)
New York Sea Grant in collaboration with the National Aquaculture Association developed free customizable seafood marketing resources to assist in branding and marketing your seafood products and dishes. While these resources were created with aquaculture producers in mind, they were developed to accommodate all production methods, wild caught and farmed, as well as culinary professionals ability to market the seafood they prepare. - FDA Best Practices for Retail Food Stores, Restaurants and Food Pick-Up/Delivery Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Link)
- Webinar on fish production sanitation during COVID-19 from Michigan Sea Grant (Link)
- Permits and License Information Including HACCP Planning (PDF)
- Factsheet from Louisiana Sea Grant: Setting up “touchless” transactions (PDF)
- Shipping Information: How to Ship Fresh Seafood (Link)
- Shipping Information: Shipping Perishables with Fedex (Link)
- Microprocessors Planning Handbook from Alaska Sea Grant (PDF)
- ISSC Dealer Certification (Link)
- Guidance on Alternative Markets for Cultured Oysters and Clams (Link)
State
- Legal Guide for Direct Marketing Aquaculture Products in Alabama (PDF)
- Connecticut Sea Grant Seafood Sales (Link)
List of Connecticut seafood businesses that are selling directly to consumers. Also contains guidance for farmers that are new to direct sales. - Delaware Seafood Suppliers (Link)
Delaware Sea Grant presents a directory of in state seafood suppliers providing sustainably fished and farmed seafood options. - Georgia Grown Ag-Products Industry Promotion (Link)
Georgia Grown is promoting Georgia farmers that are keeping regular hours, providing curbside pickup, home delivery or e-commerce sales during the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes seafood producers. Click on the link to provide information on your company so that it can be promoted to the public. - Louisiana Direct Seafood (Link)
Louisiana Direct Seafood connects consumers with fishermen and local dealers to directly purchase fresh shrimp, crabs, fish and other seafood. - Louisiana Sea Grant Information on Direct Sales and Collecting Local Sales Tax (Link)
- Maine Oyster Farmers Marketing Guidance (PDF)
The publication includes information on how holders of a Maine aquaculture license and aquaculture lease can sell their shellfish, including selling off the farm and selling from home. - Maine Sea Grant Oyster Trail of Maine (Link)
Featuring some 30 oyster farms and more than 50 restaurants that regularly have Maine oysters on the menu. - New York: Long Island FISH Initiative to Help Fishermen Find Buyers and Promote Local Seafood Retailers (Link)
Let them know who you are, where you are located, what local seafood you have available, how you can get it to customers (delivery or pick-up) and they will get the word out. - New Hampshire Sea Grant Direct Seafood Sales Guidance (Link)
As many members of the seafood industry shift to a direct sales model, these resources provide Best Handling Practices to help support the health and safety of industry members and local seafood consumers. - South Carolina Sea Grant Directory of Local Seafood Retailers (Link)
Additional local seafood retailers that remain open can contact Graham Gaines, Living Marine Resources specialist, at graham.gaines@scseagrant.org or (770) 540-0315 to be considered for addition to the list. - Virginia Oyster Growers Directory (PDF)
- Virginia Seafood Retail Buyers Directory (Link)
- Eat Wisconsin Fish Directory of Fishermen, Fish Farmers and Markets (Link)
A site for local Wisconsin seafood producers to connect with consumers.
Training and Education Resources
Non-COVID-19 specific resources:
The Sea Grant Research, Education and Engagement plan (Link) provides the results of a Sea Grant-supported Great Lakes and marine aquaculture research, education, and engagement needs assessment, helping to identify stakeholder needs that are appropriate for Sea Grant investments.
NOAA Fisheries’ Guide to Permitting Marine Aquaculture in the United States (Link) assists individuals with navigating the federal permitting process for marine aquaculture for finfish, shellfish, invertebrates and seaweed.
Aquaculture Hubs
As part of Sea Grant’s 2019 National Aquaculture Initiative, 11 funded projects are focused on accelerating the development of specific aquaculture topics through integrated teams of professionals. These teams established collaborative programs, commonly referred to as “Hubs”, to plan for and appropriately focus the next generation of aquaculture investments while enhancing the synthesis and transfer of past research advances to the industry.
Aquaculture Hub Links:
- East Coast Hard Clam Selective Breeding Collaborative
- Atlantic and Gulf Shellfish Seed Biosecurity Collaborative
- Great Lakes Aquaculture Collaborative
- Hawai’i-Pacific Aquaculture Consortium
- Indigenous Aquaculture Collaborative
- Maine Aquaculture Hub
- Recirculating Aquaculture Salmon Network
- Seaweed Hub
- StriperHub
- Southern New England Shellfish Aquaculture Hub
- West Coast Aquaculture Collaborative