727.934.5090

USDA Programs

Industry Resource Guide

USDA Resources for Shrimp & Seafood

Funding pathways, technical assistance, and support programs for U.S. shrimp harvesters, processors, dealers, cooperatives, aquaculture producers, ports, and industry organizations.

Start with the USDA Office of Seafood – your central point of contact to help commercial fishermen and seafood businesses navigate USDA programs and coordinate support across the Department.
USDA.GOV/SEAFOOD

Key USDA Programs

1

Agricultural Marketing Service Grants & Funding

USDA Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) administers a variety of grant programs and funding opportunities that may support eligible seafood businesses, processors, cooperatives, and supply chain projects depending on program requirements.

www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants
2

Local Agriculture Market Program (LAMP)

LAMP is a USDA grant program that supports local and regional food systems through marketing, business development, and supply chain initiatives. Eligibility varies for wild-caught seafood operations.

www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/lamp
3

Resilient Food Systems Infrastructure Program (RFSI)

RFSI supports projects that strengthen food system infrastructure, including processing, aggregation, storage, and distribution capacity.

www.ams.usda.gov/services/grants/rfsi
4

USDA Procurement Opportunities

USDA periodically purchases domestically produced food products through federal procurement programs. Businesses interested in supplying USDA food purchases can monitor current solicitation opportunities through USDA Agricultural Marketing Service.

www.ams.usda.gov/selling-food/solicitations
5

USDA Rural Development

USDA Rural Development offers financing programs, loan guarantees, infrastructure assistance, energy programs, and business development resources that may support eligible seafood processors, cooperatives, docks, cold storage, and vertically integrated seafood operations in qualifying rural areas.

www.rd.usda.gov

Find Local Help

USDA Service Centers provide local access to Farm Service Agency (FSA), Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and Rural Development offices near you.

FARMERS.GOV/SERVICE-CENTER-LOCATOR

Additional Seafood Resources

Marketing & Trade usda.gov/seafood/marketing-trade
Infrastructure usda.gov/seafood/infrastructure
Research & Development usda.gov/seafood/research
Workforce usda.gov/seafood/workforce
Risk Management & Disaster Assistance usda.gov/seafood/risk-management
Export & Trade Assistance (FAS) fas.usda.gov
USDA Procurement & Commodity Purchasing ams.usda.gov/selling-food-to-usda
Sea to School / Farm to School fns.usda.gov/f2s
Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) rd.usda.gov/.../rural-energy-america-program
Value-Added Producer Grants (VAPG) rd.usda.gov/.../value-added-producer-grants
Wild-Caught vs Aquaculture – Eligibility at a Glance

Wild-Caught Fisheries

  • May qualify for USDA marketing, export, procurement, business development, and some rural infrastructure programs.
  • Generally not eligible for many traditional USDA farm loans, crop insurance, or farm-based disaster programs.

Aquaculture Operations

  • May qualify for many of the same programs available to agricultural producers, including certain financing, insurance, conservation, and disaster assistance programs.
Important: Eligibility varies by program, business structure, and operation type. Contact USDA program staff before applying.

Process

1
Office of Seafood usda.gov/seafood
2
Grants & Funding ams.usda.gov/services/grants
3
Rural Development rd.usda.gov
Important Eligibility Notes

Many USDA programs have different eligibility standards for wild-caught commercial fisheries versus aquaculture operations.

Certain USDA Farm Service Agency loan, crop insurance, and disaster assistance programs are currently limited for wild-harvested seafood operations under existing federal authority.

However, seafood processors, cooperatives, vertically integrated operations, infrastructure projects, and rural business entities may qualify for select USDA Rural Development, AMS, export, energy, marketing, and procurement programs depending on project structure and eligibility requirements.

Applicants should contact the USDA Office of Seafood and their local USDA Service Center to discuss eligibility prior to applying.