PRESS RELEASE, Sherry Hamel, USDA- The USDA’s Farm Service Agency has historically supported America’s farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers. We’ve added U.S. fishermen to our customer base with the Seafood Trade Relief Program, STRP, which has a signup deadline of January 15. According to Jeremy Cates, a fourth-generation lobster, scallop, and halibut fisherman in Cutler, Maine, the program “couldn’t have come at a better time.”
USDA’s Seafood Trade Relief Program
USDA is providing $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen affected by the tariffs through the Seafood Trade Relief Program. Like many fishermen, applying for STRP was Jeremy’s first experience working with USDA.
“With the pandemic, decreased catch, and decreased price due to tariffs, we relied on this money to bolster our operations,” he says. “The funds allowed me to increase pay to my three stern men who rely on me exclusively for income for their families in a year where they could really use it. It also allowed me to replace old gear and make other functional updates.”
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the covid19 destruction of our economy has caused all parts of the food industry to have serious survival problems. Yeah ship’s crews need salaries to continue so the families survive. And YEAH equipment goes bad sitting around not being used and the boss needs help replacing it because his cash flow has ground to a halt. Of course fishermen need help.