Lawmakers Urge Biden to Address Impact of Venezuelan Crab Meat Imports
Maryland and Virginia lawmakers are urging President Biden to take action on the surge of Venezuelan crab meat imports, which they say is threatening the local seafood industry.
In a letter, they highlighted the negative impact on the Chesapeake Bay region’s economy and public health, particularly the risks posed by mislabeled and potentially contaminated crab meat.
Concerns Over the Local Industry and Public Health
The letter, signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen, Ben Cardin, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine, along with Representatives from both states, stressed that domestic seafood producers are under immense strain.
“We write to express our significant concerns with the influx of crab meat from Venezuela, which has threatened the viability of local fisheries across the Chesapeake Bay,” they stated.
The Chesapeake Bay is crucial to the U.S. seafood industry, producing half of the country’s blue crab harvest. However, with the increase in imported Venezuelan crab meat, domestic production has seen a sharp decline.
Since 1995, the number of Maryland crab picking and seafood processing companies has dropped from 53 to fewer than 20, with a 62% decrease in domestic supply in recent years.
History of Contaminated Imports
Public health concerns also factor heavily into the lawmakers’ plea. “In 2018, Venezuelan crab meat mislabeled as originating from Maryland caused an outbreak of foodborne illnesses, resulting in multiple hospitalizations.”
The risk of future contamination remains a major concern as the supply of imported crab meat has steadily increased.
The letter calls for the Biden administration to investigate the situation through the U.S. International Trade Commission, utilizing Section 201 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The lawmakers requested the administration to “direct the United States International Trade Commission to conduct an investigation… looking into the harm caused by Venezuelan crab meat imports and recommending remedies.”
They also urged diplomatic measures, saying the administration should “use the full array of informal actions available to you to address this trade issue, including through negotiations, utilization of World Trade Organization Committees, bilateral dialogues, and other activities.”
Learn more about the challenges facing the Chesapeake Bay crab industry—visit our homepage for detailed analyses.
