SJR81 Summary

• Urges Congress to allocate federal revenue from marine and fishery product import tariffs to establish a National Seafood Marketing Fund for promoting domestic seafood products.

• Identifies that over 80 percent of seafood consumed in the United States originates from foreign countries, creating significant competition for Alabama seafood producers.

• Notes that duties and tariffs on imported seafood generate approximately $280,000,000 annually for the U.S. Treasury and that federal revenue from these tariffs is not currently used for domestic seafood marketing.

• Cites University of Minnesota survey data showing the Deepwater Horizon oil spill negatively affected consumer seafood consumption habits, with 54 percent of respondents changing consumption habits and 44 percent avoiding Gulf of Mexico seafood.

• Requests the Alabama Congressional Delegation coordinate with other seafood-producing states to secure adequate funding for sustained domestic marketing of U.S. seafood.