Newsletter – Members Only – Daily

Courtesy of NAA: Live fish hauling trucks equipped with liquified oxygen cylinders to aerate fish are exempt from Department of Transportation (DOT) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR). The cylinders are recognized as being “an integral part of a process system” and exempt under §173.320(b(2). Cylinders containing non-liquefied compressed oxygen must be…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Aquaculture Information Exchange (AIE) and the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) are teaming up to host a Virtual Job Fair scheduled for Wednesday, July 23 at 12 PM EST and are inviting aquaculture employers to take part. With nearly 2,000 members across the U.S., the AIE community includes many…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have proposed in a Federal Register noticeto rescind the regulatory definition of “harm” in their Endangered Species Act (ESA) regulations. The existing regulatory definition of “harm,” which has been used since 1981, includes…...

CAA and NAA have formally requested that USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins spearhead a focused federal regulatory reform initiative aimed at supporting the U.S. aquaculture sector. This proposed effort will build on a decade’s worth of groundwork. From 2013 to 2023, the aquaculture community participated in nine independent, peer-reviewed, federally funded…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) is proud to announce the appointment of Caitlyn Czajkowski as its new Executive Director. Caitlyn brings a strong scientific background, policy experience, and a passion for aquaculture to this leadership role. Caitlyn earned her B.S. in Biology from Rowan University and went…...

If you have already renewed your membership for 2025, please disregard this message. Click Here to Join or Renew Your Membership CAA Members, Thank you for your continued support for the California Aquaculture Association (CAA). Without an active and engaged state aquaculture association, businesses would need to dedicate personnel and…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Colorado Aquaculture Association and National Aquaculture Association collaborated to analyze a petition filed by an animal rights organization, Upstream Policies, with the Colorado Parks and Wildlife requesting new state regulations to ban live bait fish importation.  To access these documents, click on “petition” and “analysis.” Upstream Policies presented three flawed analyses (A Colorado…...

Courtesy of NAA: Companion legislation has been introduced in the House and Senate by Representatives Mike Ezell (MS-04), Michael Guest (MS-03), Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Trent Kelly (MS-01) and Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Katie Britt (R-Alabama), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) that would fully restore the ability…...

Courtesy of NAA: Reducing the impact of piscivorous (fish-eating) birds on valuable farmed or stocked fish is a complex problem. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service can issue federal permits to take1 migratory birds under certain circumstances. Depredation permits authorize the take of birds to reduce damage or loss to…...

Courtesy of NAA: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will work with the United States Army Corps of Engineers to review the definition of “waters of the United States.” The agencies will move quickly to ensure that a revised definition follows the law, reduces red-tape, cuts overall permitting costs, and lowers the…...

Courtesy of the National Agricultural Law Center: The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) is a federal law aimed at combating financial crimes like money laundering and tax evasion. Under the CTA, most corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), and similar entities are required to disclose their “beneficial owners”—individuals who own or control…...

Courtesy of NAA: The No Industrial Restrictions In Secret (No IRIS) Act  was reintroduced by Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) and Rep. Glenn Grothman (R-WI). See the relevant press releases from the congressional offices as well as American Chemistry Council: Kennedy champions bill to stop bureaucrats from crushing America’s chemical industry…...

The Don’t Cage Our Oceans and Mercy for Animals have been gaining support for the proposed “net pen ban” bill in Oregon. Please submit a comment in opposition to Oregon Aquaculture Bill HB 2965. View this memo for additional details as well as opposition letter templates. To view what has…...

Courtesy of NAA: What It Is? The Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees, and Farm-Raised Fish Program (ELAP), administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA), offers financial aid to producers who suffer losses from specific adverse conditions not covered by other USDA disaster assistance programs. This includes losses due to…...

Aquaculture 2025 March 6 – 10, 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana USA CAA Member, If you are planning to attend Aquaculture 2025 in New Orleans and would like to connect with us about any issues relating to your business in California, please reach out to us at caaquaculture@gmail.com....

Courtesy of NAA: The Upstream Aquatic Institute, also known as Upstream Policies, was created and supported by a UK-based philanthropic organization, Charity Entrepreneurship, that funded them at $26K in 2023. Please visit Presenting: 2023 Incubated Charities (Round 1) – Charity Entrepreneurshipand then scroll down to the Upstream Policies profile. A…...

The agenda for the February 12 – 13, 2025 meeting of the California Fish and Game Commission is available now and can be viewed here. As a CAA member, if you have any questions or concerns about any items on the agenda, please contact us....

Courtesy of NAA: The Farm Service Agency has made a change to the Code of Federal Regulations to specify that the deadline to file a notice of loss, an application for payment, and required documentation for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm- Raised Fish Program (ELAP), Livestock Forage…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is accepting applications for grants to help agricultural producers and farmers expand market opportunities and generate more revenue. USDA is making the grants available under the Value-Added Producer Grants program. The grants help farmers and ranchers generate new products, create marketing…...

Courtesy of NAA:  The Basic Seafood Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) course teaches the principles of HACCP and empowers processors to develop HACCP plans specific for each seafood product they handle or produce. This training can either take place fully in person over 2.5 to 3 days or as…...

Courtesy of NAA: Join NOAA Fisheries and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a joint webinar on the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Presenters will discuss the listing process, protections for threatened and endangered species, and intersections with aquaculture. When: Tuesday, February 18, 2025 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern…...

The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will open two Disaster Loan Outreach Centers (DLOC) in Los Angeles and Ventura counties on Tuesday, Jan. 14. The centers will assist small businesses, private nonprofit (PNP) organizations, and residents who sustained economic losses and physical damages from the wildfires and straight-line winds that began…...

Courtesy of EPA.gov: Agency additionally grants waiver for low-NOx regulations for heavy-duty and off-road vehicles and engines The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is granting two requests from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) for waivers to implement and enforce its Advanced Clean Cars II (ACC II) regulations for light-duty…...

Courtesy of NAA: Enrollment is now open for the 2025 Investigational New Animal Drug Program.  The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s (Service) Aquatic Animal Drug Approval Partnership (AADAP) Program sponsors a variety of medications through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Investigational New Animal Drug pathway. Investigational New Animal…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has invested a total of $124 million in Business Builder grants to support small and mid-sized farm and food businesses by funding projects that increase business viability, develop regional market opportunities, and expand value chain capacity. The Business Builder grants are…...

The injunction comes less than a month before a major Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) reporting deadline. By Drew Viguet National Agricultural Law Center Fast Facts: U.S. District Court in Texas issues a preliminary injunction against enforcement of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Injunction issued Dec. 3 Reporting requirement under CTA…...

Courtesy of NAA: On November 19th, the National Agricultural Law Center (NALC) posted an article by Brigit Rollins Staff Attorney, analyzing a recent circuit court ruling that the Council on Environmental Quality, an agency created by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), was provided no regulatory authority by Congress. As Ms. Rollins in her closing…...

Courtesy of NAA: This past Monday the U.S. Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) introduced S.3309 Rural Prosperity and Food Security Act. This introduction to the Committee follows the May action by the House Committee on Agriculture chaired by Representative G.T. Thompson (R-15-PA) to mark up and…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has released a report entitled, The Port Strike’s Effect on Maritime Commerce, as a quick rundown on Atlantic and Gulf port strike economic impacts. CRS summarized the current strike by writing: “The strike by port dockworkers (commonly called longshoremen) at East and…...

Courtesy of NAA: Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), posted a Federal Register notice entitled, “Marine Mammal Protection Act List of Fisheries for 2025.” The agency is seeking public comment on changes to their List of Fisheries regulated under the authority of the Marine…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Occupational and Safety Administration (OSHA) has proposed a Heat Injury and Illness Prevention rule. The proposed rule requires employers to develop programs to protect their employees from heat hazards in both the outdoor and indoor work environments. The proposed rule would: Apply broadly to all employers…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Rural Development has announced they are accepting applications for loans and grants to expand access to new and better markets for rural small business owners and entrepreneurs. The Department is making approximately $22 million available in funding through the Rural Microentrepreneur…...

Courtesy of NAA: Yesterday, August 14th, the Environmental Protection Agency hosted a public hearing to receive comments on a request from the California Air Resources Board to waive Clean Air Act provisions to allow their Advanced Clean Fleets regulations to proceed. The regulations, which have been adopted by the state agency, require…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture Foreign Agriculture Service (FAS)’s Export Credit Guarantee Program (GSM-102) provides credit guarantees to encourage financing of commercial exports of U.S. agricultural products. By reducing financial risk to lenders, credit guarantees encourage exports to buyers in countries, mainly developing countries, that have sufficient financial strength…...

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) has notified the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that it has adopted Advanced Clean Fleets (ACF) regulations, applicable to affected state and local government fleets, drayage truck fleets, federal agency fleets, and large commercial fleets that own, lease, or operate on-road medium-duty and heavy-duty vehicles,…...

Courtesy of NAA: In this session planned for Aquaculture 2025, we will explore the values of research, community, collaboration, and celebration while bringing together the current and future generations of leaders in aquaculture. Women and individuals from underrepresented identities will be featured to speak about their work and lived experiences in…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Soy Aquaculture Alliance is hosting a free webinar entitled: Aquaculture in America – What’s the Plan and What’s Next? They invite you to explore upcoming strategic plans for aquaculture in the United States and discover how the soybean industry can significantly contribute to this growth. Date:…...

Courtesy of NAA: Recording Now Available The recording is now available for NAA’s recent webinar featuring Robert Smith of K&L Gates. Robert provided an overview of key steps in planning for and obtaining a permit and/or lease for marine aquaculture in public waters, and expert insight into common challenges farmers…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR), Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs focus on transforming scientific discovery into products and services with commercial potential and/or societal benefit. Unlike fundamental research, the USDA SBIR/STTR programs support small businesses in the creation of innovative, disruptive…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, prepares a variety of reports based upon the Census of Agriculture.  This national analysis is completed every five years. NASS recently made available are the Congressional District Profiles and Rankings from the 2022 Census of Agriculture. These summaries present data by…...

Courtesy of NAA: The recording is now available for NAA’s latest webinar – Overview of USDA’s Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) for Aquaculture. USDA’s Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP) provides recovery assistance to eligible aquaculture producers for crop and feed losses due to an eligible adverse weather or loss conditions,…...

Courtesy of NAA: Biosecurity minimizes the risk of introduction and spread of infectious diseases or disease-causing agents (pathogens) to, within and from your farm. Aquatic pathogens come in many forms including bacteria, viruses, parasites and fungi. Good biosecurity reduces stress on animals which results in a strong immune system to…...

Courtesy of NAA: You are invited to participate in a virtual listening session to inform development of a Sea Grant 10-Year Aquaculture Roadmap. The Roadmap will guide Sea Grant’s investments and other contributions to address key needs and maximize the return on these investments, and will serve to inform Congress,…...

Courtesy of NAA: Since 1987, the Regional Aquaculture Center (RAC) program has supported aquaculture research, development, demonstration, and education that enhance viable and profitable U.S. aquaculture production. In collaboration with NAA, a team of aquaculture experts recently completed an extensive programmatic review of the five RACs. During the webinar, Dr. Carole…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, in partnership with FarmRaise, today launched a new, online Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honey Bees and Farm-raised Fish Program (ELAP) Decision Tool. The USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) tool is designed to assist agricultural producers who have been impacted by natural disasters…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is awarding more than $22.2 million to enhance prevention, preparedness, early detection, and rapid response to the most damaging diseases that threaten U.S. livestock. These 81 new projects led by 48 states, universities, industry…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association recommends members contact their Representative and Senators to strongly support the following highly beneficial Sections in the House and Senate versions of the Farm Bill which should be included in the final bill passed by House and Senate. Provisions to support in the…...

Courtesy of NAA: Animal welfare and animal rights organizations are increasingly targeting aquaculture farms and processors in the United States. These groups are pursuing anti-aquaculture legislation, organizing protests on farms, and covertly infiltrating farms as both visitors and employees. Check out NAA’s Safeguarding the Future of Animal Agriculture webinar recording…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) charges user fees in accordance with Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR 130) to ensure the agency recovers the full cost for services rendered to stakeholders, and routinely reviews user fee processes…...

Courtesy of NAA: NAA Editor Note: The EPA announcement describes the second of two EPA formaldehyde risk assessments now available for public comment. The first announcement was released March 15th under the authority granted by the Toxic Substances Control Act. Scroll down to the bottom for links. The NAA recommends…...

May 3, 2024 7:30am (EST) Courtesy of NAA: In January 2026, the FDA will enforce the implementation of the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) 204 traceability rule for the food industry while many seafood stakeholders are not aware of what to expect from the regulatory agencies and the current resources…...

Courtesy of NAA: House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) released the following joint statement after the bipartisan Agricultural Labor Working Group (ALWG) released its final report and 21 policy recommendations. “America’s agriculture industry depends on the availability of a reliable workforce. However, as we have traveled…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), charges user fees in accordance with Title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR 130) to ensure the agency recovers the full cost for services rendered to stakeholders, and routinely reviews user fee processes for consistency…...

Over two thousand bills have been introduced to the California legislature for the current legislative session. The California Aquaculture Association (CAA) has reviewed these bills and selected those that may affect aquaculture activities in the state for review. As a CAA member, you are invited to review this list of…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), requests applications for the Special Research Grants for Aquaculture Research competitive grants program for fiscal year (FY) 2024. The intent is to fund applied research that addresses program priorities with a maximum award of $300,000…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association recently published an article in the World Aquaculture Society magazinediscussing the sampling aquatic environments for deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) as a method to locate animals and plants. The article entitled, A Hard Look at Environmental DNA, is posted here. Living organisms constantly shed whole…...

NOAA Office of Aquaculture is holding public listening sessions where growers, workers, researchers, coastal community members, and the general public can share their views on the future of aquaculture at NOAA Fisheries. The NOAA Office of Aquaculture is undertaking a program review in line with our mission to provide science…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association asks the US aquaculture community to contact your Senators and urge them to join this legislation. S. 3719, Sound Science for Farmers Act, creates accountability and scientific quality standards for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) assessments, risk evaluations, and regulatory actions for existing chemicals…...

Courtesy of NAA: On Dec. 18, USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service mailed the Census of Aquaculture to almost 4,000 producers across the U. S. that reported any amount of aquaculture activity during the 2022 Census of Agriculture. The original submission deadline of January 15th has been extended! Producers who received…...

Courtesy of NAA | By Chris Good, Director of Research For the several decades, The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute (FWI; Shepherdstown, WV) has carried out research to support the growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry through land-based fish production utilizing water recirculation aquaculture system (RAS) technologies. The majority of funding to support…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Foundation for Food & Agriculture Research (FFAR) is now accepting nominations for the 2024 New Innovator in Food & Agriculture Research Award. FFAR intends to grant up to 10 awards to early-career scientists pursuing research that supports FFAR’s Research Priority Areas and promotes global, sustainable food production. Each applicant…...

Courtesy of NAA: Winter storms create significant challenges and often result in catastrophic loss for agricultural producers, especially for those raising livestock, row crops and vulnerable crops like citrus. Despite every attempt to mitigate risk, your operation may suffer losses. As you prepare for the potential impacts of upcoming winter…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Veterans Business Outreach Center’s Boots to Business entrepreneurial training for military veterans is interested in Farming & Ranching. January 22, 2024 10:00-5:00pm (EST) Register Now | Add to Calendar We are pleased to announce Boots to Business Reboot for Farmers and Ranchers, in partnership with the US Department of…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), is charged with finding solutions to agricultural problems that affect Americans every day from field to table. ARS has 15 National Programs (including National Program 106: Aquaculture) involving 2,000 scientists and post docs at 90+ research locations, including overseas laboratories.…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has waived certain notice of loss requirements for 2023 for the Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and Farm-raised Fish (ELAP). Producers who incurred ELAP-eligible losses in 2023, now have until  Jan. 30, 2024  to submit a notice of loss. In an effort…...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is modifying the deadline for oyster producers to purchase the new shellfish pilot crop insurance program until Dec. 15, 2023. The new Shellfish crop insurance program is an actual production history-price component (APH-PC) coverage policy for container-grown oysters commercially cultivated for the fresh half shell market.…...

SB 54 – Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act The Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) in California aims to shift the responsibility for plastic pollution from consumers to producers. By 2032, the law intends to progressively reduce plastic material in the state. While…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) is seeking nominations for the Joseph P. McCraren Lifetime Contributions to the Aquaculture Industry award and the Joseph P. McCraren Outstanding Contributions in Promoting the Growth of Aquaculture award. Visit NAA’s Joseph P. McCraren webpage to learn more about Joe and the…...

Courtesy of NAA: October 18, 2023  12 – 1pm EST An upcoming webinar sponsored by the National Agricultural Law Center will provide a general framework to understand the wide-ranging implications of PFAS and focus on the aspects of regulation and risk specifically relevant to agriculture and the food industry. Attendees…...

We would like to invite you to attend the 2023 Pathways Towards Responsible Aquaculture in California. This forum will focus on both freshwater and marine aquaculture and will cover a range of topics, including: workforce development, biosecurity, disaster relief, funding opportunities, and future needs of the California aquaculture industry. When:…...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that oyster producers are now eligible for protection against losses due to named storms, excessive heat during a low tide event, freeze during a low tide event, or low salinity due to excessive rainfall. The new Shellfish crop insurance program is an actual…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association urges you to reach out to your House and Senate members to ask that they sponsor S.2870 – Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act. Florida Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio have introduced a bill that will amend the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to…...

We would like to invite you to attend the 2023 Pathways Towards Responsible Aquaculture in California. This forum will focus on both freshwater and marine aquaculture and will cover a range of topics, including: workforce development, biosecurity, disaster relief, funding opportunities, and future needs of the California aquaculture industry. When:…...

Courtesy of NAA: Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Alex Padilla (D-CA) recently introduced bipartisan legislation to improve access to federal agriculture disaster programs. This bill will directly benefit U.S. aquaculture producers. The Fair Access to Agriculture Disaster Programs Act (S. 2704/ H.R. 4127) would waive the adjusted gross income limitation for farms…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of the Army (the agencies) announced a final rule amending the 2023 definition of “waters of the United States” (WOTUS) to conform with the recent Supreme Court decision in Sackett v. EPA. The agencies are committed to…...

Courtesy of NAA: Senator Steve Daines (R-MT) introduced S. 2671 Deregulating Restrictions on Interstate Vehicles and Eighteen-Wheelers (DRIVE) Act, a bill that would prohibit the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) from implementing any rule or regulation mandating large commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) engaged in interstate commerce be equipped with a speed limiting device set…...

CAA Members, The 2023 Pathways Towards Responsible Aquaculture in California at Moss Landing Marine Laboratories has been postponed. A new date for the conference has not yet been determined, but we will update you as soon as we have additional information....

Courtesy of NAA: Bipartisan support is essential to move aquaculture friendly legislation intended to strengthen the 2023 Farm Bill. The following three topics are attracting support across the aisle; however, more horsepower is needed for each set of bills (i.e., House and Senate companion legislation). HR 3951 Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems,…...

CAA Members, You are invited to attend the 2023 Pathways Towards Responsible Aquaculture in California. The forum will focus on both freshwater and marine aquaculture and will cover a variety of topics, including but not limited to workforce development, biosecurity, disaster relief, funding opportunities, and future needs of the California…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly called the Farm Bill, is set to expire at the end of 2023, and Congress is working feverishly to put together a new Farm Bill. Following extensive work by the NAA’s Legislative and Government Relations committee, the NAA selected nine key…...

Courtesy of NAA: New legislation, S. 1614 Lacey Act Amendments of 2023, has been introduced in the Senate intended to amend the Lacey Act.  The legislation is not needed and would stop or severely impede import and interstate trade in live aquatic animals. The current Lacey Act provides the authorization to…...

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Aquaculture National Program 106 and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) are hosting a series of listening sessions to inform priority setting and program planning actions for the next 5-years (2025-2029). These sessions will solicit stakeholder input regarding…...

Small nonfarm businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, small businesses engaged in aquaculture, and most private nonprofit organizations in Mono county and contiguous counties may apply for Economic Injury Disaster Loans of up to $2 million to help meet working capital needs caused by severe winter storms, straight-line winds, flooding, landslides and…...

Courtesy of NAA: House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) and Ranking Member David Scott (GA-13) launched an online portal to solicit Farm Bill feedback from Members of the House of Representatives, regardless of membership on the House Committee on Agriculture. This portal provides members the opportunity to share the unique…...

Courtesy of NAA: In NAA’s recent visit with House and Senate members, Representatives and Senators responded positively to waiving the Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) cap limiting access to USDA disaster assistance programs if farm income was 75% or more from farming. What can you do to make sure this waiver…...

By Zach Ducheneaux, Administrator, Farm Service Agency: Earlier this year, we made several updates to disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and Tribes equitable access to recovery programs administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Specifically, I’d like to point out changes made to the Noninsured Crop Disaster…...

Courtesy of NAA: If you missed the free webinar entitled What’s Happening with US Aquaculture Advocacy, a recording has been posted by the host SeafoodSource.  The hour-long webinar focused on the advocacy efforts by the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) to benefit US aquaculture. NAA President Sebastian Belle and NAA Executive…...

Courtesy of NAA: Unmanned aircraft systems (i.e., drones) are widely used in field crop agriculture.  Animal rights activist have adopted the technology to capture images and footage for use in media campaigns developed to damage public perception of animal agriculture. Mercy for Animals, whose goal is to “end the exploitation…...

California agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the recent floods throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should contact their local USDA Service Center to report losses and learn more about program options available…...

Courtesy of NAA: To better support America’s farmers and ranchers USDA has partnered with tax experts from across the country to connect producers to information and resources related to USDA program payments, asset protection, and the important relationships between federal income taxes and USDA farm programs. Navigating filing your taxes…...

Please find below a list of resources for those impacted by recent winter storms and flooding: Disaster Unemployment Insurance Tax Relief for Businesses Impacted by Storms State of California Office Of Emergency Services-Winter Storms Tax Deadline Extended for Those Impacted by Winter Storms FEMA / State and Local Resources Road…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) released a proposed rule with new regulatory requirements to better align the voluntary “Product of USA” label claim with consumer understanding of what the claim means. The proposed rule allows the voluntary “Product of USA” or “Made in the USA” label…...

The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Antimicrobial Use and Stewardship program (CDFA AUS) is excited to announce veterinary shortage designations through the USDA NIFA Veterinary Medical Loan Repayment Program (VMLRP). VMLRP aims to help alleviate veterinary service shortages throughout California and the United States by offering student loan debt…...

Courtesy of NAA: Emerging research on aquaculture governance has pointed to the conundrum of negative global environmental effects from economic incentives for aquaculture production to shift from more highly regulated to less regulated countries. This study has focused on examining whether regulatory costs on U.S. tilapia farms may have contributed…...

USDA Offers Disaster Assistance to Farmers and Livestock Producers in California Impacted by Floods California agricultural operations have been significantly impacted by the recent floods throughout the state. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has technical and financial assistance available to help farmers and livestock producers recover. Impacted producers should…...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today announced the opening of its Disaster Loan Outreach Center to meet the needs of businesses and individuals who were affected by the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides that occurred Dec.…...

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The U.S. Small Business Administration and the California Small Business Development Center today announced the opening of an SBA Business Recovery Center in Merced on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023, to provide a wide range of services to businesses impacted by the severe winter storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides…...

Courtesy of NAA: Submit input by March 10, 2023!  Federal regulations detail how laws should be implemented by the government and the public’s input can help ensure rules are effective and accessible for all Americans. The Biden-Harris Administration and the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA)  announced recommendations to broaden public…...

Courtesy of NAA: Tax time is a busy time of year for business owners, and this includes farmers and ranchers. Navigating filing your taxes can be challenging, especially if you are new to running a farm business, participated in disaster programs for first time, or are trying to forecast your…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that agricultural producers can begin to apply for two new important programs for revenue losses, from 2020 and 2021 natural disasters or the COVID-19 pandemic. Both programs equitably fill gaps in earlier assistance. First, you may be eligible for assistance…...

EPA and Army Press Release The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army) published a final rule in the Federal Register which will become effective on March 20, 2023. The agencies developed this rule with consideration of the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) made updates to several conservation, livestock and crop disaster assistance programs to give more farmers, ranchers, and tribes the opportunity to apply for and access programs that support recovery following natural disasters.  Specifically, USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA) expanded eligibility and…...

Courtesy of NAA: An April 2022 letter to Congressional Appropriators signed by 19 aquaculture associations, the National Aquaculture Association walking the halls of Capitol Hill and your calls to your Senators and House member has moved the needle and increased the budget for farmed aquatic animal health! The additional funds…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Aquatic Life Institute, a member of an Aquatic Animal Alliance focused on animal rights, attended the 27th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP27), that occurred November 6-20, 2022.  Included in the broader context of the Convention, to trigger…...

Courtesy of NAA: The National Aquaculture Association recommends members contact their Senators to support passage of the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2021 which has passed the House and is awaiting action in the Senate.  Find your Senators here. The Farm Workforce Modernization Act seeks to reform the process by which…...

Courtesy of NAA: Proposition 65 requires the State of California to maintain and update a list of chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.  Businesses with 10 or more employees that expose individuals to listed chemicals through their products or operations generally must provide warnings. The California Attorney General’s…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will announce, via live stream, new historic investments to expand markets for climate-smart commodities, leverage the greenhouse gas benefits of climate-smart commodity production and provide direct, meaningful benefits to production agriculture, including for small and underserved producers. This investment…...

The California Energy Commission (CEC) is holding a virtual webinar on Thursday, December 8th from 1:00p -4:00p PST to discuss the State’s approach and progress on the identification of suitable sea space to meet the requirements of Assembly Bill (AB) 525. The primary purpose of the webinar will be to discuss…...

Soy Aquaculture Alliance is requesting proposals for research opportunities relating to aquaculture. Research should be focused on producing outcomes connected to the value chain and provide benefits to aquaculture farms. Research priorities were developed by a committee of practicing nutritionists and aquaculture feed company representatives. The committee will evaluate and…...

Don’t Cage Our Oceans, an anti-marine aquaculture organization, is hosting two roundtable Zoom meetings, which are listed below. CAA members, especially those with a vested interest in marine aquaculture, are encouraged to attend one or both of these meetings. Registration details can be found in the links below. Note that…...

Date: November 11, 2022 Time: 11:00a -12:00p PST Click here to register Growers and hatchery managers know the challenges of getting seed, and how complicated and costly this can get with state regulations, which usually require individual batch testing to provide assurance of biosecurity, freedom from pathogens or diseases, for…...

The California Aquaculture Association (CAA) is seeking nominations for the upcoming Board of Directors election. The duties and responsibilities of CAA directors are listed below. If you are interested in being considered as a nominee, please complete and submit the form here by November 15, 2022. CAA Board of Directors…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), offers a variety of cost-share programs to improve on-farm conservation practices. The recently signed Inflation Reduction Act authorizes NRCS funding to reduce, capture or sequester nitrogen losses or greenhouse gas emissions and/or mitigate or address climate change…...

If you are a Commercial Fisher or Fish Processor that was in operation as of May 19, 2015, and fished or purchased fish from certain southern California fishing blocks, you may be entitled to a payment from a class action settlement. The deadline to file a claim is October 31,…...

Courtesy of NAA: We’ve got an exciting announcement for a location-negotiable position in the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service, Branch of Hatchery Operations and Applied Science, headquarters team. Please take look at the links and descriptions below and fill out an application if you’re interested. It’s two weeks or 100…...

Courtesy of NAA: Immediate Help for Over 13,000 Distressed USDA Farm Loan Borrowers; Begins process to provide up to $500 million more for up to 23,000 additional borrowers The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced that distressed borrowers with qualifying USDA farm loans have already received nearly $800 million…...

Courtesy of NAA: The U.S. Department of Agriculture is seeking public comment on how it should implement Section 22007 of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a provision that aims to provide assistance to the nation’s farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners who experienced discrimination in USDA’s farm lending programs. Section 22007…...

Courtesy of NAA: The Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ), on behalf of the interagency Ocean Policy Committee (OPC), request input from all interested parties to inform the development of a U.S. Ocean Climate Action Plan (OCAP) that will help guide and…...

Courtesy of NAA: The three regional interstate marine fisheries commissions have posted fiscal year 2023 Aquaculture Pilot Project grant competition request for proposals. Click on one or more titles to access the requests. Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission To develop…...

Courtesy of NAA: Reps. Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), and Steven Palazzo (R-MS-04) announced the establishment of the Aquaculture Caucus, for which the four representatives will serve as inaugural co-chairs. The National Aquaculture Association encourages its members and nonmembers to reach out to their House members…...

California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) and California Fish and Game Commission (FGC) staffs invite your participation in an online workshop to help develop draft criteria for public interest determinations for proposed new state water bottom (or aquaculture) leases. What: Aquaculture Lease “Public Interest” Policy Guidance Criteria Workshop When:…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US House of Representatives has passed the Coast Guard Authorization Act which includes a critical amendment to the Merchant Marine Act as both a stand-alone bill (see page 65) and as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Unfortunately, the Senate has offered legislation that…...

Courtesy of NAA: On August 31, 2022, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) announced the extension of its coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID–19) Emergency Declaration which provides regulatory relief for motor carriers and drivers engaged in providing direct assistance in continued support of the Nation’s COVID–19 national emergency. The extension…...

Courtesy of NAA: The US Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) released two National Conservation Innovation Grant (CIG) Notices of Funding Opportunity. Both are currently accepting applications. The CIG On-Farm Conservation Innovation Trials (OFT) program will award up to $25 million for projects addressing Irrigation Water Management Technologies,…...

Director Tanya N. Garfield of the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Disaster Field Operations Center-West today reminded California businesses and residents of the Oct. 10, 2022, deadline to apply for an SBA federal disaster loan for property damage caused by the Oak Fire in MariposaCounty that began July 22, 2022. According to…...