WHEREAS, from the Chesapeake Bay and its tidal rivers to the Atlantic Ocean, Virginia supports a diverse commercial seafood industry built on wild harvest, aquaculture, processing, distribution and market development; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia’s commercial fishing and seafood industry generated over $3.2 billion in sales impacts in 2023, with the broader industry supporting over 20,000 jobs; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia’s commercial fishermen landed more than 355.4 million pounds of seafood in 2024, with commercial landings generating over $220.4 million in dockside value; and

 

WHEREAS, in 2024, Virginia’s seafood landings led all East Coast states and ranked third nationally by volume of commercial seafood landings; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia’s bivalve aquaculture industry generated an estimated $81 million in farm-gate value in 2024, and the state is the top producer of eastern oysters and hard clams in the nation; and

 

WHEREAS, Virginia seafood reaches consumers across the Commonwealth, throughout the United States and in markets around the world as 2025 exports exceeded $16 million, with France, United Kingdom, Canada, China, and Hong Kong as the top destination countries;

 

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Abigail D. Spanberger, Governor, do hereby recognize October 2026, as VIRGINIA SEAFOOD MONTH in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens.