Coastal Bill Expands Farm Loans to Fishermen, Funds $10M in Rural Seafood Processing, and Boosts Maritime Jobs

The Working Waterfronts Act of 2025 is a massive, five-part bill that aims to strengthen coastal economies, upgrade infrastructure, and address climate resilience from the Great Lakes to the Gulf Coast. If you work in the fishing industry, run a small coastal business, or rely on maritime trade, this legislation is trying to make some big moves that could affect your bottom line and your community.

The Fishing Industry Gets the Farm Loan Treatment

Perhaps the most significant change for anyone in the seafood supply chain is tucked away in Title II. This bill essentially tells the Department of Agriculture (USDA) that commercial fishing and fish processing are just as much “farming” as growing corn or raising cattle. Under SEC. 201, the USDA’s Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act is updated to make commercial fishing vessels, permits, and processing facilities eligible for the same direct and guaranteed farm ownership and operating loans traditionally reserved for agriculture.

What this means for you: If you’re a fisherman looking to buy a new boat, a processor needing to upgrade equipment, or a mariculture operation looking for capital, you now have access to a massive new pool of federal financing. This is a game-changer for businesses that have historically struggled to secure capital because their assets (like a boat or a fishing permit) didn't fit neatly into traditional loan categories. It’s about leveling the playing field for the people who put food on our tables from the sea.

$10 Million to Fix Up Rural Seafood Infrastructure

Title III focuses on shoreside infrastructure, recognizing that you can’t catch fish if you can’t process or store them. SEC. 303 establishes a new grant program, authorizing $10 million annually through 2030, to fund competitive grants for improving seafood processing and cold storage facilities in “rural coastal communities.” These grants can be used to build new facilities or fix up old ones.

Crucially, the bill mandates that at least 50% of this funding must go to processing facilities with fewer than 50 employees. This is a clear effort to ensure that the money benefits the small, local processors—the backbone of many coastal towns—rather than just large, multinational corporations. If you live in a coastal town where the local processing plant is outdated or non-existent, this funding could bring jobs and economic activity back home.

Additionally, SEC. 311 creates the Working Waterfront Access Protection Grant Program, authorizing another $20 million annually. This money is designed to help states and local groups protect and maintain waterfront properties used for commercial fishing, mariculture, and boatbuilding. In areas where rising real estate values are pushing out working piers for condos, this grant money can be used to buy easements or fund repairs to keep those essential waterfront businesses operating and accessible.

Energy: Tax Credits for Dams and Cleaner Fuel for Boats

Title I tackles energy from two angles. First, SEC. 101 introduces a substantial 30% tax credit for maintaining and upgrading hydroelectric facilities. This credit is aimed at improving fish passage, water quality, and sediment flow at existing dams. If you’re a taxpayer who owns or invests in these facilities, this is a huge incentive to modernize. The bill also allows for elective cash payments or transferability of this credit, meaning non-taxable entities or those without a big tax bill can still benefit, which could cost taxpayers significantly but is designed to spur investment quickly.

Second, SEC. 102 sets up a pilot program to help commercial fishing vessels transition away from 100% petroleum fuels. This program offers loans for building new alternative fuel boats, retrofitting old ones, and building the necessary shoreside infrastructure (like charging stations). This is a forward-looking provision that aims to reduce operating costs for fishermen and lower the industry's environmental footprint.

Building the Workforce and Mapping the Coast

Beyond the infrastructure and finance, the bill invests heavily in people and data.

• Maritime Jobs: SEC. 401 establishes a new Maritime Workforce Grant Program, authorizing $25 million annually for training, recruiting, and educating people for maritime careers. Crucially, at least 25% of this money must be allocated to applicants in rural areas, ensuring that coastal communities benefit directly from the job training.

• Safety First: SEC. 402 increases funding for fishing vessel safety programs from $3 million to $6 million annually for 2026 and 2027. It also mandates that safety training must now specifically address behavioral and physical health risks, including substance use disorder and worker fatigue. This acknowledges the demanding and often dangerous nature of the work and provides necessary support for the crew.

• Ocean Innovation: Title V establishes "Ocean Innovation Clusters" (SEC. 502), essentially creating regional hubs to promote sustainable economic growth in the “Blue Economy”—everything from offshore wind to mariculture. The goal is to foster collaboration between businesses, universities, and governments to drive innovation and create jobs in the ocean sector.

• Climate Data: SEC. 513 requires the government to create a detailed national map and inventory of all vegetated coastal ecosystems (like mangroves and marshes) and Great Lakes ecosystems. This map will be used to assess the ecosystems' ability to sequester carbon and act as natural infrastructure against storm surges. For coastal planners, this data is invaluable for figuring out where to spend restoration dollars and how to build climate resilience.

The Fine Print: What to Watch Out For

While this bill is overwhelmingly focused on providing benefits, there are areas to keep an eye on. The new 30% tax credit for hydropower improvements (SEC. 101) is broad, and the transferability of that credit is complex. Taxpayers need to ensure that the improvements claimed truly deliver public benefits and aren't just routine maintenance dressed up as modernization.

Similarly, the power granted to the Secretary of Commerce to designate the new Ocean Innovation Clusters (SEC. 502) is significant. While the bill calls for geographic diversity, the selection process must be transparent to ensure these designations aren't politically driven, but actually go to the groups best positioned to drive fair and sustainable economic growth in their regions.