On October 30, Gov. Youngkin announced that a Hampton business will receive the latest blue cat processing grant.
This small ($247,000) investment in processing will benefit the awarded business, watermen, the broader community, the economy, and the ecosystem as the release (below) and two 2024 blog posts―Can we eat our way out of the blue catfish crisis? and ICYMI: Increased processing = more blue catfish on dinner tables―point out. In fact, Virginia Cooperative Extension has found that in 2019, the processing segment of the Virginia seafood industry out-employed all other segments in the industry and contributed similarly in labor, tax revenue, and output. See the image below for details.
It is worth noting that there was one applicant for the grant from the Northern Neck.
Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Blue Catfish Processing Grant Award to Hampton Seafood Processor
Grant will increase Amory Seafood’s purchasing, processing, and sales of local wild-caught blue catfish
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin announced today that Amory Seafood has been awarded $247,000 through the Governor’s Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Program. This reimbursable grant will support the implementation of a modern quick freezer and essential packing equipment that will allow Amory Seafood to increase processing capacity in its Hampton facility. Once the expansion and modernization project is complete, Amory Seafood will purchase more blue catfish from local watermen, which supports economic growth and helps to remove the invasive species from Virginia waters.
“I congratulate Amory Seafood on this expansion, as this project helps to increase processing capacity of the invasive blue catfish, provide additional market opportunities for Virginia watermen, and boost the Commonwealth’s seafood industry’s economic impact which was over $1.1 billion in 2019,” said Governor Glenn Youngkin.
“This award not only benefits Amory Seafood, but also the city of Hampton, and the local watermen who currently limit their catches due to limited processing availability,” said Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Matt Lohr. “I am pleased that we were able to partner on this expansion project with this innovative grant funding to help improve the health of Virginia waterways by incentivizing the fishing of an invasive species.”
Located in the City of Hampton, Amory Seafood is a 4th generation seafood company that has been harvesting, processing, shipping, and distributing seafood across the East Coast and North-Central US for over 100 years. For the past ten years, Amory Seafood has been processing wild-caught blue catfish and is a certified USDA-approved catfish processor. Annually, Amory Seafood works with around 20 local watermen, who they hope to support by increasing their purchases of the invasive blue catfish. An increasingly stable yet unwanted population, blue catfish offers a sustainable source of revenue for Virginia's commercial and recreational fishermen.
“On behalf of everyone at Amory Seafood, I thank Governor Youngkin, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the city of Hampton for this grant funding,” said Amory Seafood CEO Meade Amory. “Once complete, this expansion will enhance our processing capacity, and improve quality and marketability of our products. We will also be in a better position to support local watermen and reduce the number of invasive blue catfish which helps to protect native Chesapeake Bay species.”
The Governor’s Blue Catfish Processing, Flash Freezing, and Infrastructure Grant Fund was established during the 2023 General Assembly session to address the overpopulation of the invasive blue catfish in the Chesapeake Bay. It is part of a larger effort by state agencies to combat a species wreaking havoc on Virginia’s ecosystems by incentivizing local waterman to catch and sell an abundant, inexpensive fish for consumer consumption.
“The city of Hampton commends Amory Seafood as it begins this expansion and as it promises substantial economic benefits for Hampton and the surrounding Chesapeake Bay region,” said Mayor Donnie Tuck. “This project builds on Hampton’s longstanding seafood heritage, creates new full-time jobs, injects an estimated $1.5 million annually directly into the local fishing community, and increases business for logistics and transportation services.”
“I congratulate Amory Seafood on this expansion and investment in the Hampton community,” said Delegate Jeion Ward.
“Amory Seafood has been in the Hampton community for over 100 years. It is pleasing to see a local business expand to new market opportunities, provide economic stimulus to the surrounding community and industry, and provide positive environmental impacts,” said Senator Mamie Locke.