The $1.65 trillion bill approved by Congress in late December to fund the federal government for the 2023 fiscal year contains language in a directive to NOAA to issue a report on how to reestablish and fund the National Seafood Council (NSC).
The inclusion of the National Seafood Council in the FY2023 government funding bill is in large part due to the advocacy of America’s Seafood Campaign — an industry-led movement headed by the National Seafood Council Task Force to unite the seafood community and secure funding for a national seafood promotion campaign.
“Reestablishing the NSC would deliver a boost to the industry and go a long way to growing seafood’s share of plate across the country,” said Matt McAlvanah, campaign director for America’s Seafood Campaign.
The promotion campaign would educate consumers on the public health benefits of seafood consumption, at a time when more and more Americans are looking for nutritious and sustainable meal options.
“This is a crucial step in achieving our important goal of supporting public health and job creation through seafood, and demonstrates how the seafood industry can have a greater voice when we share seafood’s impactful story as a unified group,” said Linda Cornish, founder and president of Seafood Nutrition Partnership. “The scientific consensus is clear: eating seafood at least twice a week is critical to a well-rounded, healthy diet.”
