Seafood Trade Relief Program Available
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Farm Service Agency (FSA) is making $530 million dollars available to U.S. commercial fishermen affected by retaliatory trade tariffs from foreign governments. Details on the program are below.
USDA/FSA Seafood Trade Relief Program - STRP
Program opened: September 14, 2020
DEADLINE EXTENDED TO JANUARY 15, 2021
Detailed information can be found at the following website: www.farmers.gov/seafood
Links and Resources:
Fact Sheet: https://www.farmers.gov/sites/default/files/2020-09/FSA_STRP_Fact%20Sheet-2020.pdf
Informational webinar recording: https://globalmeetwebinar.webcasts.com/starthere.jsp?ei=1372014
Frequently asked questions: https://www.farmers.gov/seafood/strp-faq
How to apply:
Application materials can be found at www.farmers.gov/seafood.
Applicants are also encouraged to contact their county FSA office, which can be found either at Farmers.gov/service-locator, or by contacting a USDA call center at 877-508-8364. This call center will provide fishermen with additional one-on-one support with the STRP application process.
Who is eligible?
This program is available to all commercial fishermen who are US Citizens and who harvested the following eligible species, and provides a direct relief payment to fishermen based on their 2019 harvest and the species payout rate:
| Seafood | Payout Rate ($/lb.) |
| Atka Mackerel | 0.10 |
| Crab (Dungeness) | 0.47 |
| Crab (King) | 0.47 |
| Crab (Snow) | 0.47 |
| Crab (Southern Tanner) | 0.47 |
| Flounder | 0.15 |
| Geoduck | 0.76 |
| Goosefish | 0.10 |
| Herring | 0.04 |
| Lobster | 0.50 |
| Pacific Cod | 0.14 |
| Pacific Ocean Perch | 0.10 |
| Pollock | 0.01 |
| Sablefish | 0.10 |
| Salmon | 0.16 |
| Sole | 0.15 |
| Squid | 0.20 |
| Tuna | 0.13 |
| Turbot | 0.15 |
Other Information:
- This program does not require repayment.
- Payments are based on your 2019 landings sold to a permitted or licensed seafood dealer for each eligible species, but you must have actively fished during 2020 to be eligible to receive a payment.
- You must have a commercial license to commercially land and sell fish to a wholesaler. Direct-to-consumer sales are ineligible for repayment.
- Payout is capped at $250,000 per person or per entity.