The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will allow retailers to market scup as “golden sea bream,” according to U.S. Representative Seth Magaziner (D-Rhode Island).
“The new brand name for unknowing consumers of Golden Sea Bream will be appealing at retail and especially on menus instead of Scup! Thank you to the FDA and our Rhode Island Congressional delegation for making a change,” Commercial Fisheries Center of Rhode Island Executive Director Fred Mattera said in a release.
Otherwise known as porgy, scup is a small fish that is commercially harvested along the U.S. Atlantic coast. Commercial fishers have claimed that the fish’s name isn’t terribly attractive to consumers and have pushed for regulators to allow the fish to be sold under a more attractive name.
Last year, Magaziner introduced legislation that would authorize scup to be sold as “golden sea bream,” but his bill was never taken up for consideration. However, he was able to get language from his bill included in the annual appropriations bill that funds the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the FDA, which was passed into law late last year.
Now, Magaziner said the FDA has confirmed that golden sea bream is an acceptable name for the fish.
“Hardworking fishermen deserve a fair price for their catch, and I am proud to have passed this legislation that will help open new markets and bring more profits home to Rhode Island,” Magaziner said in a release. “I will always fight to support the local fishing industry and the workers who keep it alive. Rhode Island’s fishing industry is central to our economy, culture, and way of life.”
The change will be reflected in the July 2026 Seafood List publication.
“We are so grateful to Congressman Magaziner for enacting this legislation. Being able to market scup as golden sea bream will go a long way toward developing stronger demand for this delicious native species and providing better returns for our hardworking Rhode Island commercial fishermen.” Seafreeze Fisheries Liaison Meghan Lapp said in a statement.
