February 7, 2022 The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced on February 4, 2022, that the United States and the European Union (EU) have concluded negotiations to allow for the resumption of bilateral trade in bivalve molluscan shellfish. For the first time since 2011, U.S. producers, beginning in the states of Massachusetts and Washington, will be eligible to export live, raw and processed bivalve molluscan shellfish to the…

Comments submitted by ECSGA on the Draft Strategic Plan to Enhance Regulatory Efficiency in Aquaculture, a Report issued by the Regulatory Efficiency Task Force of the Subcommittee on Aquaculture, National Science & Technology Council commending the efforts of the federal agencies on the Task Force to reduce U.S. reliance on imported seafood and to streamline and facilitate aquaculture permitting. The association provided three pages of specific recommendations that would help…

In this Letter the ECSGA, PCSGA, Shellfish Growers Climate Coalition and Oyster South ask Congress to seriously address climate change in the Fall 2021 infrastructure and reconciliation bills.

The  U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) is launching a streamlined application portal to allow borrowers with Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans of $150,000 or less through participating lenders to apply for forgiveness directly through the SBA.      This new change will help rush relief to over 6.5 million of the smallest of small businesses, which has been the SBA Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman’s priority since day one. The new forgiveness platform…

If you missed it, now’s your chance to experience the NACE/ECSGA virtual trade show. Each vendor gave a 15-minute presentation and the recordings are now available. Vendors included: Atlantic Aquaculture SupplyEast Coast Shellfish Growers Association EPaintFlip FarmFormutechIndustrial NettingIndustrial PlanktonKetcham TrapsMaine Aquaculture AssociationNational Aquaculture AssociationOyster Seed HoldingsOysterGroOyster TrackerReed MaricultureShellevatorThunderbird Plastics

Growers who experienced a big crop loss in 2019 and were able to collect an indemnity payment through NAP should be able to recalculate their 2019 sales revenue (which was probably low because of the crop loss) and resubmit for a larger Coronavirus Food Assistance Program phase 2 (CFAP2) payout.   https://www.farmers.gov/cfap FSA updated the CFAP 2 payment calculation for aquaculture commodities to account for crop insurance indemnities and payments…

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering: First Draw PPP Loans for first time program participants Second Draw PPP Loans for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) now allows certain eligible borrowers that previously received a PPP loan to apply for a Second Draw PPP Loan…

The Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) provides loans to help businesses keep their workforce employed during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) crisis. SBA is currently offering: First Draw PPP Loans for first time program participants Second Draw PPP Loans beginning January 13, 2021 for certain businesses who have previously received a PPP loan First Draw PPP Loans can be used to help fund payroll costs, including benefits. Funds can also be used to…

On November 16, 2020 the ECSGA joined with the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association (PCSGA) in submitting a comment letter to the Army Corps of Engineers on our general support for the use of Nationwide Permits (NWPs) for activities, such as shellfish farming, which result in no more than minimal individual and cumulative adverse environmental impacts. The letter made clear that our two organizations believe that several statements and positions…

Register for the Dec. 11 Webinar Aquaculture is Agriculture: USDA’s Role in supporting Farmers of Fish, Shellfish and Aquatic Plants here. Advance registration is required. 9:00 am           Welcoming and Opening Remarks 9:30 am           Aquaculture Aligns with the Ag Innovation Agenda and the Science BlueprintPeggy Biga, OCS                     9:50 am           USDA’s Role in Updating the National Aquaculture Development PlanJeffrey Silverstein, ARS 10:10 am         Aquaculture Intersects with AgricultureDan Northrup, Benson Hill…