Senators are pushing the USDA to expand federal buying of seafood processed in the Pacific Northwest.
The West Coast is well-known for its marine life and seafood, harvesting nearly a billion pounds of it every year from the 7,000 miles of shore. Nearly one-seventh of the U.S.’s seafood production comes from Washington, Oregon and California, and a quarter of all seafood processing work is found here, too.
That is why West Coast senators are pushing the Department of Agriculture to step up commodity purchasing of seafood, as families and coastal communities struggle to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Lawmakers say West Coast seafood dealers and processors saw a steeper revenue decline than all other regions—a staggering $598 million loss, falling around 27% in 2020.
