Marine finfish production is a rapidly expanding field, both in research and industrial aquaculture. A driving force behind this growth is the inherently high value placed upon marine finfish products in the marketplace.

In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) disease pandemic, a collaborative initiative was launched by The Ohio State University, Virginia Tech, and Engle-Stone Aquatic$, LLC to assess the impacts of the pandemic on U.S. aquaculture, aquaponics, and allied industry. Over the course of the first quarter of 2020, the U.S. government developed and implemented several emergency relief measures, in an effort to assist small businesses and individuals. The Q2 survey asked specifically about these relief and assistance programs, as well as questions on adaptations and changes being implemented by farms and businesses in response to the ongoing challenges. This fact sheet summarizes the Q2 results of this study, covering the period from April 10th to June 29th, 2020.

Consumers enjoy eating a variety of seafood and can find many choices of fresh as well as frozen seafood in the refrigerated and freezer cases of grocery stores.Abigail Villalba, Extension Specialist, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center Michael Jahncke, Professor, Food Science and Technology, and Director, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center Michael Schwarz, Extension Specialist, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center David Kuhn, Assistant Professor, Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech Alisha Farris, Extension Specialist, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech

Seafood processors must practice strict sanitary procedures to reduce contamination sources, thus providing consumers with high quality, wholesome foods. A routine sanitation monitoring program in place demonstrates that processors are actively maintaining a sanitary environment during processing.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as 11 million Americans have food allergies. A food allergy can trigger symptoms ranging from a tingling mouth, swelling of the tongue and throat, hives, and abdominal cramps to anaphylaxis and — in severe cases — death (CDC 2012). Consumers with known allergies must read labels to identify allergenic foods or ingredients on packaged products so they can more easily avoid them.

The purpose of this extension publication is to provide food processors with basic guidelines to follow and to use when discussing Coronavirus (COVID-19) controls during shared transportation and housing.

This publication is part of a series of publications titled "Strategies to control the spread of COVID at seafood processing plants". The information in this publication provides seafood processors with strategies that can be implemented to minimize exposure of the workforce to the COVID virus by using cleaning and disinfection practices.

This publication provides seafood processors with strategies to control and minimize the spread of COVID at seafood processing plants. The publication discusses steps that employers and employees must take to ensure the continuity of operations of essential functions when employees are returning to work after exposure to COVID.