ECSGA newsletter 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:
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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.
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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
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ECSGA Newsletter Issue 4 december 2022 Page 5