Blog

We would like to wish you a very happy holiday season. This year has been quite the year, and we’re very thankful to all of you for being with us and staying engaged through such trying times. We will do everything we can to help you and your business thrive in 2021, and we hope that you continue to support CAA and our efforts.

As a reminder, in 2020 we addressed a number of issues to help keep your business successful by:

• Engaging state and national agencies and officials to provide COVID-19 relief to include:
  • HR 748, Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act): SBA COVID-19 disaster relief, EIDL Advance, and the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).
  • Improving food security to depend more on domestic seafood.
  • Streamlining regulations so that more seafood can be grown in California.
  • Additional grants and low interest loans to survive COVID-19 conditions.
• Supporting the reestablishment of the Aquaculture Depredation Order (AQDO) to relieve members of double-crested cormorant predation.
• Supporting an amendment to the Farm Bill to exempt live fish from onerous delivery regulations.
• Engaging with the FDA to combat misleading seafood labeling by plant-based protein companies.
• Participating in a walk on the hill in Washington, D.C. (in 2019) as a member of the Board of Directors of the National Aquaculture Association to advance pro-aquaculture legislation in California and nationwide.
• Standing with shellfish farmers to establish reasonable best management practices (BMPs), as requested by the state and supporting the Shellfish Initiative to triple production.
• Protecting coastal aquaculture and seafood economies by advocating for support of HR 3596, Keep America’s Waterfronts Working Act.
• Supporting the RESTAURANTS Act to help ensure continued demand for seafood products in restaurants.
• Working to establish a marine aquaculture industry in California by:
  • Supporting and assisting in amending the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act.
  • Maintaining commitment from the CDFW to complete the marine PEIR.
  • Recommending that “marine finfish aquaculture” be added to the Ocean Protection Council’s (OPC) Strategic Plan 2020 – 2025.
• Promoting California aquaculture to meet current and future demand.
• Advocating enhanced stocking of warm water fish.

We look forward to serving you and enhancing your opportunities in 2021 – and we hope that you and your families are staying healthy and safe.

If there is anything you need from us, now or in the future, please don’t hesitate to reach out: info@caaquaculture.org, (916) 246-6349

Sincerely,

Michael Lee, Executive Director