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The new Shellfish Pilot Crop Insurance Program, provided by the USDA’s Risk Management Agency (RMA), offers oyster producers protection against environmental challenges and allows them to insure based on their sales records. This program, developed in response to the 2018 Farm Bill, addresses the specific needs of shellfish producers and leverages their existing records to streamline the process. The program covers losses from named storms, excessive heat, freeze events, and low salinity due to rainfall. Developing the program required collaboration among various USDA offices and faced challenges due to the diverse nature of shellfish production. The program fills an important gap for aquaculture producers and is seen as a crucial risk management tool, especially as the demand for seafood is expected to increase. Efforts are underway to improve and expand the program, potentially encompassing other aquaculture sectors in the future. This initiative reflects RMA’s broader mission to support agriculture through the Federal crop insurance program, which has seen significant growth in coverage over the past few decades, including expansion into aquaculture.

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