# Summary of S. 3785, Working Waterfronts Act of 2024
This comprehensive legislation supports rural coastal and maritime economic development through multiple initiatives targeting fishing communities, seafood processing, and ocean industries. The bill establishes tax credits for hydroelectric facility improvements, funds programs to help commercial fishing vessels transition to alternative fuels, and expands agricultural lending programs to include fishing and fish processing businesses. It authorizes $10 million annually through 2029 for rural seafood processing and cold storage infrastructure grants, and $20 million annually for a working waterfront access protection program that preserves fishing-related property and infrastructure. The legislation also creates a $25 million annual maritime workforce development grant program through 2029 to train future maritime workers, designates at least seven Ocean Innovation Clusters to foster blue economy growth, and establishes new collaboration frameworks between federal agencies and Indian Tribes on ocean acidification research. Additional provisions increase safety training funding for fishing vessel crews, support shellfish farming initiatives, and provide $5 million annually for aquatic invasive species mitigation programs. Most major programs run through fiscal year 2029, with specific timelines ranging from one to two years for regulatory implementation and study completion.
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