Administration launches seafood label and Seafood.gov site
The Trump administration introduced a voluntary label for seafood caught in the United States and a new website called Seafood.gov. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the measures at a Florida rally, saying domestic fish is better than imported seafood. The White House said the FDA began offering the label Friday, while a fishing group praised it as a way to support the domestic industry.
The White House said the FDA began offering the voluntary label for domestically caught seafood Friday, alongside the new Seafood.gov website. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. introduced both at a Fort Myers, Florida, rally, arguing U.S. fish is better than imported and European-caught products and that the administration is reopening commercial fishing markets.
NOAA figures cited in the article estimate roughly 80 percent of fish eaten in the U.S. in 2023 was imported. The New England Fishermen’s Stewardship Association called the label a significant victory, saying it helps shoppers identify American-caught seafood and supports domestic fishing, processing, and retail. The article also notes earlier industry worries about Canada trade tensions, including Maine lobster sellers fearing harm.
The voluntary label and website could help consumers make quicker choices about domestic seafood, while potentially benefiting U.S. fishermen, processors, and retailers if shoppers respond. Imported-seafood sellers and trade partners may face added competition or consumer preference shifts. Because the label is voluntary and uptake unclear, effects may be limited and uneven; fishing communities exposed to trade disputes could see both opportunities and uncertainty.