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U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue announced Sept. 9 that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will provide approximately $530 million to support the U.S. seafood industry and fishermen impacted by retaliatory tariffs from foreign governments.

The funding will be provided through the Seafood Trade Relief Program funded through the Commodity Credit Corporation and administered by USDA’s Farm Service Agency (FSA).

The Seafood Trade Relief Program funding will support the following seafood types: Atka mackerel, Crab (Dungeness, King, Snow, Southern Tanner), Flounder, Geoduck, Goosefish, Herrings, Lobster, Pacific Cod, Pacific Ocean Perch, Pollock, Sablefish, Salmon, Sole, Squid, Tuna and Turbot.

Fishermen can sign up for relief through the program from now through December 14. Contact your local FSA office in Columbia at 252-796-3701 or Roper at 252-791-0108.  Application can be found at www.farmers.gov/seafood.

All USDA Service Centers are open for business, including some that are open to visitors to conduct business in person by appointment only. All Service Center visitors wishing to conduct business with FSA, Natural Resources Conservation Service, or any other Service Center agency should call ahead and schedule an appointment.