Risk Management Agency (RMA) 

and Farm Service Agency (FSA)

Aquaculture Programs

Risk Management Agency (RMA)

RMA Aquaculture Programs

RMA provides subsidized insurance policies sold through 

private insurance companies to help aquaculture producers 

manage risk. Currently, RMA offers four insurance products 

for aquaculture producers.

 Shellfish Pilot Crop Insurance Program: This program 

provides a yield-based product for containerized 

oysters commercially produced for the half-shell 

market. The shellfish program provides coverage 

against four perils: 

y Named storms (hurricanes and nor’easters)

y Excessive heat during a low tide event

y Freeze during a low tide event

y Low salinity caused by excessive rainfall

The program provides coverage for the expected 

production of oysters to be harvested in the current 

crop year. Coverage for immature oysters is not 

available at this time. Producers can elect to increase 

their insurable price above the published price 

election with verifiable sales records supporting a 

higher price election.

The shellfish program is available beginning with the 

2024 crop year in select counties in:

y Alabama

y California 

y Florida 

y Maine

y Maryland 

y Massachusetts 

y Mississippi 

y New York

y North Carolina

y Rhode Island

y South Carolina

y Virginia 

 Group Risk Plan (GRP) Oysters: GRP is a risk 

management tool to insure against widespread loss 

of production of oysters in a county. GRP Oysters is 

currently available in nine counties in Louisiana.

 Aquaculture Dollar Plan Clams: This program provides 

inventory-based stock mortality insurance for clam 

producers in select counties in Massachusetts, South 

Carolina, and Virginia.

 Whole-Farm Revenue Protection (WFRP): WFRP 

provides a risk management safety net for all 

commodities on the farm under one insurance 

policy. WFRP is available to producers of alligator, 

baitfish, clams, fish, oysters, trout, aquatic plants, and 

watercress across the country.

 Premium Subsidy Eligibility: To be eligible for premium 

subsidy for any policy or plan of insurance, including 

the Shellfish Pilot Crop Insurance Program, a person 

must have a signed Form AD-1026 (Highly Erodible 

Land Conservation (HELC) and Wetland Conservation 

(WC) Certification) on file with FSA for the reinsurance 

year on or before the premium billing date for their 

crop insurance policy.

DECEMBER 2023
RMA and FSA PROGRAM OFFERINGS FOR AQUACULTURE 2

Farm Service Agency (FSA)

FSA Aquaculture Programs

FSA provides programs to help aquaculture producers 

manage risk including two farm programs for aquaculture 

producers who incur losses due to eligible disaster 

conditions. Farm Loans and Farm Storage Facility Loans are 

also available for aquaculture producers.

Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP): NAP is 

a natural disaster risk management tool that provides financial 

assistance to producers of crops (including aquaculture) that 

are not covered by RMA insurance products.

Eligible aquaculture:

 Any species of aquatic organisms grown as food for 

human consumption;

 Fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by 

humans; and

 Ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic 

medium.

 Can NAP and RMA crop insurance be purchased 

together?

y Producers can have coverage under both NAP and 

RMA’s shellfish and oysters programs while the 

RMA programs are in pilot status, but producers are 

limited to indemnification under only one program.

y Producers can receive both NAP payments and a 

WFRP indemnity. However, if the NAP payment 

exceeds the WFRP deductible, the amount over the 

deductible will be considered revenue-to-count for 

WFRP indemnity determinations.

Emergency Assistance for Livestock, Honeybees, and FarmRaised Fish Program (ELAP): ELAP emergency assistance 

covers eligible farm raised fish, livestock, and honeybees 

against losses due to an eligible adverse weather or loss 

condition including death loss, in excess of normal mortality.

Eligible aquaculture include:

 Any species of aquatic organisms (not including reptiles 

or amphibians) grown as food for human consumption;

 Fish raised as feed for fish that are consumed by 

humans;

 Ornamental fish propagated and reared in an aquatic 

medium;

 Bait fish; or

 Game fish. 

 Can ELAP and RMA crop insurance be purchased 

together?

y Producers can receive and retain benefits from both 

crop insurance and FSA disaster programs, such as 

ELAP. 

Farm Loans

Direct Farm Loans are available for operations producing 

eligible aquatic organisms for food.

Loan options include:

 Direct Farm Ownership (FO) Loans: FO loans to 

eligible aquaculture operations can be used to 

purchase real estate for land-based operations. Loans 

can be made in collaboration with other lenders, as 

a down payment, or for the full purchase price. Loan 

terms are based on loan type and repayment up to a 

maximum of 40 years, with a maximum of $600,000.

 Direct Operating Loans (OL): OLs can be used to 

purchase needed equipment and supplies for a landbased aquaculture operation. Loan terms are 1 to 

7 years as determined by the type of security and 

repayment, with a maximum loan amount of $400,000.

 Guaranteed Farm Ownership and Operating Loans: 

Guaranteed Loans are made by commercial lenders 

for purposes similar to FSA’s Direct Loans, offer higher 

loan limits with a combined maximum loan amount of 

$2,236,000 (adjusted annually for inflation) and are 

guaranteed against loss by FSA up to 95% of the loan 

amount.

Farm Storage Facility Loan (FSFL) Program: FSFLs provide 

low-interest financing for aquaculture producers and can be 

used to:

 Build, upgrade, or acquire, permanently affixed or 

portable, new, or used farm storage and handling 

facilities, equipment;

 Purchase drying and handling equipment needed and 

essential for handling the eligible commodity; and

 Purchase storage and handling trucks and/or 

equipment for maintaining and monitoring the eligible 

commodity. 

For FSFL purposes, aquaculture species are defined 

as any species of aquatic organisms grown as food for 

human consumption, or fish raised as feed for fish that are 

consumed by humans.

This fact sheet gives only a general overview of the crop 

insurance program and is not a complete policy. For further 

information and an evaluation of your risk management 

needs, contact a crop insurance agent.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.