For generations, we have thought of agriculture as something rooted in the land. We picture fields, soil, and harvest. Rows of crops. Farmers working at sunrise. Food that is growing from the ground beneath us.
But for many, their livelihood has never come from the land. It has always come from the water.
For years, the seafood industry has been part of our food system alongside agriculture, even if it has often been seen as separate. People who catch or farm seafood have always been part of our food system, even if they have not always been recognized.
This story is not just about those who catch from the water. It also includes the processors who prepare, handle, and move seafood through the supply chain, connecting what is caught to what we eat. Their work has always mattered, even if it has not always been seen.
Farmers have long received support from programs such as crop insurance, the Emergency Disaster Loan Program, and the Conservation Reserve Program. These federal programs help cover weather-related losses, provide financial relief during disasters, and support long-term sustainability in agriculture. In contrast, people in the seafood industry have faced a different reality. Commercial fishermen and seafood processors have often lacked clear access to these resources, and many federal programs did not specifically include them until recently. As a result, they have had fewer resources, less clarity, and far less support.
That has only recently begun to change.
As conversations around food systems, supply chains, and food security have grown, more attention has turned to seafood. The creation of a dedicated Office of Seafood within the USDA is helping to close a long-standing gap. This office supports commercial fishermen, aquaculture producers, and seafood processors by providing a clearer path to federal programs, including grants, technical assistance, and stronger representation in national food policy.
Together, these changes mark a turning point.
Federal recognition is more than acknowledgment. It reflects a real shift. For many fishermen and others across the seafood supply chain, access to the federal support long available to traditional agriculture is only now taking shape.
With this new focus, more resources are becoming available, including disaster relief, financial support, and funding for vessels, equipment, and operations. In an industry shaped by weather, changing ecosystems, and market uncertainty, that kind of support can make a meaningful difference.
It also creates new opportunities to strengthen the domestic seafood sector. The United States continues to rely heavily on imported seafood. Supporting American fishermen and processors through promoting locally sourced products and improving supply chains can help build a more balanced and resilient food system.
Just as important, increasing the availability of domestic seafood can improve sustainability by reducing transportation distances, encouraging responsible fisheries management, and lowering the environmental impacts associated with imports from less-regulated sources. By investing in our own seafood industry, we support both the environment and our communities.
Equally important, this shift brings greater clarity. Formally recognizing fishermen, aquaculture producers, and processors within federal programs helps ensure they are included in funding, marketing, and long-term planning in ways that did not always exist before.
When people working on the water and throughout the seafood supply chain are supported, it strengthens more than just their industry.
It supports coastal communities. It helps stabilize our food supply. It helps ensure seafood remains a viable and accessible part of our food system.
And it brings greater visibility to the people who make it possible.
At The Growers Table, we often talk about knowing where our food begins. For many, that means thinking about the land, farms, fields, and growers.
But the story does not end there. It extends beyond the shoreline.
When we see seafood as an essential part of our food system, our perspective shifts. Whether food is grown, harvested, or caught, it all depends on care, knowledge, risk, and dedication. Different environments. Different challenges. But the same steady commitment to feeding others.
This is why it matters.
It matters not just in policies and programs, but in how we see and value the people who bring us our food. Every meal begins somewhere. And every story is worth telling.
The way we support seafood and agriculture shapes the future of our food and the people who bring it to our table.
~ Christine Connell