ECSGA newsletter December 2022

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ECSGA Newsletter Page 4 Issue 4 December 2022
Why Should You Support the ECSGA? by Robert Rheault, ECSGA Executive Director Why are only 17% of shellfish growers on the East Coast members of the ECSGA? What can we do better to help growers understand the value of our organization? Most trade associations struggle with only 15% of their industry joining, so maybe we should be happy that we’re doing better than average. But we want every grower to see the value of our work and to support us so that we can accomplish even more. Just in case you aren’t aware of everything we do, let’s take a minute to toot our own horn. Just remember that many of the efforts listed below can take years to bear fruit, so progress can seem slow or even imperceptible. In our advocacy work, the ECSGA has many irons in the fire, and most of our efforts are ongoing, year-round tasks. They include, among other things: ❑ ❑ ❑ Pushing for workable regulations. Arguably our most important work centers on coordinating with the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference (ISSC) to make sure the regulatory environment is science-based and practical. We have brought about significant changes to the ISSC rules that make shellfish farming easier while ensuring that our products are sanitary and wholesome. We participate in many subcommittees that do crucial work between the biennial conferences to deal with thorny issues. (see article on page 1.) Connecting with Congressional representatives. Our second most critical effort involves maintaining relationships with elected representatives in Congress so they understand what we do and can help us out if the need arises. Our work in DC has resulted in changes to the Farm Bill that have improved crop insurance options and resulted in funding an annual $2.8 million USDA shellfish breeding program to improve disease resistance, growth and production traits. Exempting growers from the Jones Act. We have a bill (a decade in the making) pending in Congress that will exempt aquaculture employers from the need to carry Jones Act insurance, provided their workers can be covered by state workers compensation insurance. This exemption will protect employers from unlimited liability lawsuits. ROBERT RHEAULT/ECSGA ECSGA volunteers and their counterparts from the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association emerge after the first of 100 meetings on their annual pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., in 2018. The “Walk the Hill” trips took a Covid hiatus, but will resume in the spring of 2023. Member support helps the association cultivate and maintain crucial relationships with elected officials that benefit growers in practical ways. ❑ ❑ ❑ Submitting public comments. The ECSGA has offered reams of comments on proposed regulatory changes to issues like new FDA traceability requirements, Army Corps Nationwide Permits and requests for research priorities from funding agencies. Streamlining and rationalizing interstate seed transport regulations. We have been working for years to improve these regulations, and together with a team at the Regional Shellfish Seed Biosecurity program (RSSBP.org) developed a novel hatchery certification program based on solid science. Advocating for disaster relief eligibility. Working closely with allies in the National Aquaculture Association (NAA), the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association and Oyster South, we have scored many wins, including the FREE disaster relief program known as the Emergency Livestock Assistance Program (ELAP), run through the Farm Service Agency (read about it in the — Continued on page 7 FIRST MONTH FREE FOR ALL ECSGA MEMBERS FARM MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE www.compassaq.com 50% Onboarding Fee FOR PAST OYSTER TRACKER USERS OFF ECSGA Newsletter Issue 4 december 2022 Page 5
Page 1 and 2: East Coast Shellfish Growers Associ
Page 3: Floating Aquaculture, Birds and Pub
Page 7 and 8: — Continued from page 5 Why Join
Page 9 and 10: ECSGA Newsletter Issue 4 december 2
Page 11 and 12: Microplastics and Shellfish by Robe
Page 13 and 14: P.E.I. Growers Hammered by Hurrican
Page 15 and 16: ECSGA Newsletter Issue 4 december 2

ECSGA newsletter December 2022

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