Joint Report to the General Assembly on Seafood Industry Workforce in 2025 (Marine Resources Commission)

Summary

Joint Report to the General Assembly on Seafood Industry Workforce in 2025, submitted by Jamie L. Green, Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission, as Liaison for the Seafood Industry Workforce. It states that Virginia's commercial seafood industry provides direct employment to approximately 24,880 individuals and that the Waterman's Apprentice Program had 52 active apprentices in 2025 and 48 new applications for 2026. The report describes the limited availability of H-2B visas and notes that the federal government has authorized up to 35,000 supplemental H-2B visas above the statutory cap. It states that the Commissioner and the Commission did not receive any requests or communications from the migrant labor community in the preceding 12 months (CY 2025).

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Full text

                          COMMONWEALTH of VIRGINIA
                                      Marine Resources Commission
                                              380 Fenwick Road
  Stefanie K. Taillon                               Building 96                       Jamie L. Green
  Secretary of Natural                        Fort Monroe, VA 23651                    Commissioner
 and Historic Resources



                          JOINT REPORT TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
                          ON SEAFOOD INDUSTRY WORKFORCE IN 2025


Report Submitted By:
Jamie L. Green, Commissioner,
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
Liaison for the Seafood Industry Workforce for the Commonwealth of Virginia

To:
The Honorable Jeion A. Ward, Chair, House Committee on Labor and Commerce
The Honorable Alfonso H. Lopez, Chair, House Committee on Agriculture, Chesapeake, and
Natural Resources
The Honorable R. Creigh Deeds, Chair, Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor
The Honorable David W. Marsden, Chair, Senate Committee on Agriculture, Conservation, and
Natural Resources

Legislative Requirement:

In 2022, SB 358 enacted Chapter 406, an Act aimed at addressing the workforce needs of the
seafood industry. As part of this Act, the Governor was directed to designate the Secretary of
Labor or his designee as a liaison for this purpose. Taking effect in July 2023, Commissioner
Green was appointed as the Secretary of Labor's designee. The requirements of the appointed are
as follows:
        i.     Promoting and protecting the interests of employees and employers in the seafood
               industry
        ii.    Assisting employees and employers in understanding the rights and processes
               available to them, including rights and processes available pursuant to the laws
               and regulations governing temporary worker visas.
        iii.   Answering inquiries by telephone and electronic mail.
        iv.    Upon request, providing an employee or employer with referrals to public and
               private agencies offering assistance in using the procedures and processes
               available to such employee or employer from the federal government, including
               all appeal procedures.
        v.     Reporting annually on the activities of the liaison to the House Committees on
                   An Agency of the Natural and Historic Resources Secretariat
                                             www.mrc.virginia.gov
                   Telephone (757) 247-2200 Information and Emergency Hotline 1-800-541-4646
                 Commerce and Energy and Agriculture, Chesapeake and Natural Resources and
                 the Senate Committees on Commerce and Labor and Agriculture, Conservation
                 and Natural Resources by December 1.


Accordingly, this report is being provided to fulfill Commissioner Green's
responsibilities under this Act.

Virginia's Seafood Economy and Industry

Virginia is a prominent seafood producer on the East Coast, as stated in the 2020 Annual
Fisheries Economics of the United States report by the National Marine Fisheries Service 1. In
2020, it achieved the highest seafood landing revenue in the Mid-Atlantic region, reaching an
impressive $214.4 million. Virginia also ranks as the country's fourth largest producer of marine
products, reporting a substantial total of 362.5 million pounds of landings in 2018. This places
Virginia just behind Alaska, Louisiana, and Washington. The seafood industry is a critical
economic driver for many communities, particularly in rural and historically underserved areas,
where it provides stable employment and dependable economic opportunities. These
communities often face higher poverty rates, greater minority and tribal populations, and limited
capacity to adapt to changes, such as unemployment or educational challenges 2.

Virginia's commercial seafood industry provides direct employment to approximately 24,880
individuals who are involved in the harvest, sales, or processing of seafood. These jobs are
spread across 62 firms, generating an annual payroll of approximately $62 million. Moreover,
the industry significantly impacts the marine transport and support sector, which encompasses
businesses like shipbuilding, deep sea freight transport, port and harbor transportation, and
marinas. Within this sector, 249 firms directly benefit from Virginia's seafood industry, resulting
in an annual payroll exceeding $2.5 billion. In terms of specific ports, Hampton Roads stood out
as the nineteenth wealthiest seafood port in the United States in 2019, further highlighting
Virginia's significance within the industry. A recent economic analysis conducted by Virginia
Tech estimated the value of the Virginia seafood industry to be nearly $1.3 billion. It is important
to note that this valuation does not include contributions from the retail or restaurant sectors,
emphasizing the even greater economic impact of Virginia’s seafood industry.

Promoting and Protecting the Interests of Employees and Employers in the Seafood
Industry

The Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC) is steadfast in its mission to promote and
protect the interests of employees and employers in the Commonwealth's vital seafood industry.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Jamie Green, the Commission works tirelessly to ensure
that the needs of the commercial sector are understood, addressed, and prioritized.


1
  National Marine Fisheries Service. 2023. Fisheries Economics of the United States, 2020. U.S. Dept. of
Commerce, NOAA Tech. Memo. NMFS-F/SPO-236, 231 p.
2
  https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/socioeconomics/social-indicators-coastal-communities
Commissioner Green consistently meets with representatives and business owners in the
commercial fishing industry across Virginia, creating an open dialogue to understand the unique
needs of their businesses and workforce. These regular interactions allow him to gather valuable
insights into the challenges facing the industry, from workforce development to regulatory
concerns, and to craft solutions that ensure the sustainability and prosperity of this vital sector for
the future.

Under the leadership of Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources Stefanie Taillon and the
Youngkin Administration, VMRC has implemented specific actions to promote and protect the
seafood industry, advancing its mission of responsible stewardship. A key initiative reflecting
this commitment is the Waterman’s Apprentice Program 3. This program equips individuals with
the technical skills, hands-on experience, and mentorship necessary for a fulfilling career in the
seafood industry. With 52 active apprentices in 2025 and 48 new applications for 2026, the
program has seen remarkable growth and success, empowering participants to enter the
workforce with confidence and ensuring the next generation of skilled watermen is prepared to
meet the challenges of the future.

Virginia also completed a major environmental and economic milestone with the restoration of
oyster habitats in six tributaries as part of its commitment to the 2014 Chesapeake Bay
Watershed Agreement 4. These efforts directly benefit the seafood industry by improving water
quality, bolstering oyster populations, and creating a healthier, more sustainable marine
ecosystem that supports both current and future watermen.

Through these initiatives and ongoing efforts, VMRC remains steadfast in its mission to
advocate for the interests of the seafood industry’s workforce and businesses while ensuring the
sustainability of Virginia’s natural resources for generations to come.

Assisting Employees and Employers in Understanding the Rights and Processes Available
to Them, Including Temporary Worker Visas

The fishing industry in Virginia has faced a significant challenge over the past decade due to
limited availability of H-2B visas and an increase in visa applications from other industries.
Seafood processing companies have traditionally depended on these visas to sustain a thriving
crab and oyster industry. For every H-2B worker employed in Virginia, 2.1 additional jobs are
supported. However, the state has not been granted any H-2B visas in recent years, resulting in a
critical shortage of crab meat and affecting the industry's viability.
Commissioner Green has engaged with Virginia seafood businesses affected by workforce
shortages related to the federal H-2B visa program and has monitored federal legislative efforts
aimed at addressing those impacts. These efforts have included legislation introduced by
Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine and Congressman Rob Wittman to modify or exempt the
seafood industry from the H-2B visa cap.
Congressman Wittman introduced H.R. 614, legislation intended to exempt the seafood industry
from the H-2B cap. The bill was referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary and did not

3
    https://mrc.virginia.gov/apprenticeship/
4
    https://www.chesapeakebay.net/what/what-guides-us/watershed-agreement
advance further during the 118th Congress. Efforts to include similar language in the National
Defense Authorization Act were unsuccessful after the House Judiciary Committee did not grant
the required waiver for inclusion of immigration-related provisions.
Separately, Congressman Wittman worked with Congressman Andy Harris through the federal
appropriations process to advance a seafood industry exemption and a returning worker
exemption. While returning worker language was initially included in draft appropriations text, it
was later removed prior to final passage.
In addition, the federal government has authorized up to 35,000 supplemental H-2B visas above
the statutory cap. At this time, it is not known whether or to what extent Virginia seafood
businesses will receive access to these supplemental visas, as allocation decisions are made at the
federal level.
VMRC continues to monitor federal actions related to the H-2B program and remains engaged
with industry stakeholders regarding potential impacts on Virginia’s commercial fishing and
seafood processing sectors.

Answering Inquiries and Providing an Employee or Employer with Referrals for
Assistance

Commissioner Green and VMRC did not receive any requests or communications from the
migrant labor community in Virginia’s Commercial Seafood Industry in the preceding 12 months
(CY 2025).

Annual Reporting Obligation

This report is respectfully submitted to fulfill the requirements outlined under SB 358.

Respectfully Submitted,




Jamie L. Green, Commissioner, Virginia Marine Resources Commission Liaison for the Seafood
Industry Workforce for the Commonwealth of Virginia


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