The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is requesting bids from suppliers for large quantities of Pacific Northwest groundfish and domestic catfish. Suppliers must submit bids by 23 August for 151,200 cases of frozen Pacific whiting fillets and 50,400 cases of frozen rockfish fillets, with deliveries set between October 2024 and March 2025. Additionally, the USDA is asking for bids on 1.5 million pounds of farm-raised catfish, with bids due by 21 August and deliveries between January and March 2025.
This procurement effort follows an announcement by Oregon legislators, who revealed that the USDA would spend $22 million on Pacific rockfish and whiting from West Coast fishermen to support federal nutrition programs. The West Coast seafood industry, which has struggled due to challenges like competition from imported proteins, the pandemic, and global trade issues, pushed for this purchase. The USDA’s actions are seen as crucial in supporting the domestic seafood industry.
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