The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has awarded nearly USD 16 million (EUR 13.7 million) in contracts to a trio of Pacific Northwest pink shrimp suppliers to support the region’s fishery, which officials claim has been disrupted by U.S. President Donald Trump’s ongoing trade war.
Earlier this year, Oregon officials asked officials to help local pink shrimp sector, arguing that an above-average harvest combined with the cancellation of multiple pink shrimp contracts due to uncertainty around U.S. tariffs had created a crisis in the fishery. According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, state fishers harvested 49.4 million pounds of shrimp in 2024 – 12 percent higher than the prior season – with an ex-vessel value of USD 26.6 million (EUR 23.4 million).
In May, the USDA agreed to purchase USD 16 million worth of pink shrimp to support the industry.
“As a coastal state with major ports, we move billions of dollars’ worth of seafood across the globe. The Oregon shrimp fleet is made up of independent family fishermen who are oftentimes multi-generational members of their local coastal communities,” Oregon Governor Tina Kotek said in a statement. “USDA’s investment in our state will help our local economies grow and families make ends meet.”
On 10 July, the department issued contracts to Bellingham, Washington-based Bornstein Seafoods; Clackamas, Oregon-based Dulcich; and Westport, Washington-based Ocean Gold Seafoods for 99,900 cases of pacific salad shrimp.
Under the contracts, Bornstein Seafoods was awarded USD 3,275,034 (EUR 2,808,164), Dulcich was awarded USD 10,014,084 (EUR 8,586,683), and Ocean Gold Seafoods was awarded USD 2,438,280 (EUR 2,090,729).
According to the department, the shrimp will be used for school lunches and other federal supplemental nutrition efforts. Deliveries are expected to take place between 1 August and 31 October 2025.
