September 21, 2026 2:50 a.m.

On Friday, Oregon’s U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley led a bipartisan group of Oregon and Washington lawmakers in a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins that calls on the USDA to deliver critical federal support to West Coast fishermen and seafood harvesters, processors, and distributors.

The lawmakers’ letter calls on USDA to include whiting in this year’s Section 32 purchases, supporting harvesters, processors, and coastal economies along the West Coast during a period of significant market disruption and strengthening the resiliency of America’s food systems by supporting domestic protein production and distribution.

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “Historically, Pacific whiting exports to Ukraine, one of the largest whiting fillet markets, reached up to nearly $95 million per year, but instability in the region as a result of war has put that market in jeopardy and caused significant impacts to the supply chain.” They added, “Over the last several years, the USDA has worked with the West Coast seafood industry to support domestic distribution of surplus product and ensure that our food supply chain and fisheries operations aren’t wholly disrupted by fluctuations or complete loss of markets abroad.”

The letter asks the USDA to continue that partnership by addressing these sustained market losses that have created vast economic strains and challenges for the seafood industry.

In addition to Merkley, the letter was signed by Senator Ron Wyden, and all 6 of Oregon’s representatives in Congress.