Section 1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the “American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026”.
American Seafood Competitiveness Act of 2026
A BILL
To amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to expand eligibility of Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses, and for other purposes.
Sec. 2 Department of Agriculture loans and grants for fishing and mariculture businesses
Definitions of farmer and farming— Section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (1), by striking “farming.” and inserting “farming, commercial fishing, or fish processing.”;
in paragraph (2), by striking “farming.” and inserting “farming, commercial fishing, and fish processing.”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(14) Commercial fishing—The term commercial fishing means fishing (as defined in section 3 of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1802)) in which the fish harvested, either in whole or in part, are intended to enter commerce or enter commerce through sale, barter, or trade.
“(15) Commercial fishing vessel—The term commercial fishing vessel means a fishing vessel and a fish processing vessel (as those terms are defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code).
“(16) Fish—The term fish has the meaning given the term in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code.
“(17) Fish processing—The term fish processing means the processing of fish for commercial use or consumption.
“(18) Fish processing facility—The term fish processing facility means a facility or vessel, boat, ship, or other craft used or equipped for fish processing.”
Farm ownership loans—
Eligibility— Section 302(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1922(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle—
“(A) the terms “farmer” and “rancher” shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing; and
“(B) the terms “farm” and “ranch” shall include—
“(i) a commercial fishing vessel; and
“(ii) a fish processing facility.”
Purposes— Section 303(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1923(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Commercial fishery participants; fish processors
“(A) Commercial fishery participants—An individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for—
“(i) acquiring a commercial fishing permit;
“(ii) acquiring a commercial fishing vessel; and
“(iii) making capital improvements to a commercial fishing vessel.
“(B) Fish processors—An individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for acquiring or making capital improvements to a fish processing facility.”
Farm operating loans—
Eligibility— Section 311(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1941(a)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(3) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish—Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, for purposes of direct and guaranteed farm loans under this subtitle—
“(A) the terms “farmer” and “rancher” shall include an individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing; and
“(B) the terms “farm” and “ranch” shall include—
“(i) a commercial fishing vessel; and
“(ii) a fish processing facility.”
Purposes— Section 312 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1942) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(f) Commercial fishery participants; fish processors
“(1) Commercial fishery participants—An individual or entity engaged in commercial fishing may only use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a commercial fishing vessel.
“(2) Fish processors—An individual or entity engaged in fish processing may use a direct or guaranteed loan under this subtitle for the costs associated with operating and maintaining a fish processing facility.”
Local agriculture market program—
Farmers’ markets and local food promotion program— Section 210A(d)(6) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(d)(6)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(F) Eligibility of wild-caught fish and shellfish—For purposes of this paragraph—
“(i) an agricultural commodity or product described in subsection (a)(12) shall include fish (as defined in section 2101 of title 46, United States Code) that is caught, taken, or harvested from the wild; and
“(ii) the eligible activities described in paragraph (2) shall include domestic seafood marketing.”
Waiver of matching funds requirements— Section 210A(i) of the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 (7 U.S.C. 1627c(i)) is amended by adding at the end the following:
“(4) Waiver of matching funds requirements—The Secretary may waive a requirement for a recipient of a grant under this section to provide matching funds, or reduce the amount of matching funds required to be provided, if the recipient is engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing (as those terms are defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))).”
Implementation and coordination—
In general— Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall take such actions as are necessary to ensure the successful and effective integration of individuals and entities in the commercial fishing industry, including those engaged in commercial fishing or fish processing (as those terms are defined in section 343(a) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 U.S.C. 1991(a))), into each program of the Department of Agriculture for which those individuals and entities are made eligible under the amendments made by this section.
Technical assistance and guidance— In carrying out paragraph (1), the Secretary of Agriculture shall—
provide outreach and technical assistance to participants in the commercial fishing industry, including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships, to promote awareness of and access to relevant programs;
provide guidance and training to relevant agency personnel of the Department of Agriculture, including through cooperative agreements and public-private and other partnerships, to ensure program services are effectively delivered to the commercial fishing industry; and
coordinate, as appropriate, with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and other relevant Federal and State agencies to implement the amendments made by this section.
Sec. 3 Extension of credit to businesses providing services to producers or harvesters of aquatic products
Farm credit banks—
Eligibility for credit and financial services— Section 1.9 of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2017) is amended—
in paragraph (2), by striking “or” at the end;
by redesignating paragraph (3) as paragraph (4); and
by inserting after paragraph (2) the following:
“(3) persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs; or”
Purposes for extensions of credit— Section 1.11(c)(1) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2019(c)(1)) is amended by inserting “and to persons furnishing services directly related to the operating needs of producers or harvesters of aquatic products” after “needs”.
Production credit associations— Section 2.4(a) of the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2075(a)) is amended—
in paragraph (2), by striking “and” at the end;
in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and
by adding at the end the following:
“(4) persons furnishing to producers or harvesters of aquatic products services directly related to their operating needs.”