New push made for an aquaculture law in the US
A letter signed by 140 open ocean aquaculture advocates has today been sent to US politicians to urge Congress to pass the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025.
The Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) coalition and the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA) penned the letter, which they said demonstrates growing bipartisan support for expanding aquaculture in United States federal waters. It was signed by representatives across the seafood industry, as well as environmental organisations, chefs, academics and others.
“The US has the science and technology, ocean resources, and skilled seafood workforce to lead in sustainable seafood production,” said SATS campaign manager Drue Banta Winters.
“The MARA Act would put in place a pathway to allow us to demonstrate that we can grow more of our seafood here at home both responsibly and sustainably, while strengthening coastal economies, supporting America’s terrestrial farmers and strengthening our nation’s food security.”
Guided by science
Maddie Voorhees, lead for the CSA and US aquaculture campaign director at the Environmental Defence Fund, said: “The MARA Act represents a pivotal step toward ensuring that aquaculture in US federal waters is guided by sound science, transparency, and a commitment to ocean health.
“By investing in research and commercial-scale demonstration projects, this bill will help answer critical questions about how we can responsibly grow more seafood at home while safeguarding the ecosystems and communities that depend on healthy oceans.”
Introduced by senators Roger Wicker (Republican, Mississippi) and Brian Schatz (Democrat, Hawai’i) and representatives Mike Ezell (Republican, Mississippi), Ed Case (Democrat, Hawai’i), Kat Cammack (Republican, Florida), and Jimmy Panetta (Democrat, California), the MARA Act lays the groundwork for a science-based approach to developing sustainable offshore aquaculture in US federal waters.
Years of effort
The Act builds on years of bipartisan effort to help the US harness the potential of open ocean aquaculture by codifying the existing and effective Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), streamlining permitting, supporting working waterfront infrastructure, and investing in workforce training to prepare the next generation of maritime professionals.
Aquaculture advocates said the bill’s inclusion of science-based demonstration projects is an essential step toward understanding how open ocean aquaculture can expand while maintaining strong environmental safeguards. These projects will generate the data needed to guide responsible growth, protect ocean health, and strengthen public trust in US aquaculture.
Earlier this year, a World Wildlife Fund and World Bank report, Harnessing the Waters: A Trillion-Dollar Investment Opportunity in Sustainable Aquaculture, identified aquaculture as one of the most promising opportunities to build a sustainable global food system over the next 25 years. The report projects that aquaculture could generate 22 million new jobs by 2050 and represents a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity.
Benefits for coast and inland
The letter from SATS and the CSA to leadership of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and the House Committee on Natural Resources argues that expanding responsible American aquaculture will strengthen both coastal and inland economies.
Coastal communities will benefit from new investment in portside infrastructure and seafood processing, while inland states will gain new markets for US-grown crops such as soybeans, corn, peas, and barley used in sustainable aquafeeds.
The broader seafood supply chain, from hatcheries and equipment manufacturers to processors, retailers, and exporters, stands to benefit as well.
Signatories to the letter include feed producers such as Cargill and Rangen, fish farmers including Blue Ocean Mariculture, chefs, seafood businesses, and the Aquacukture Stewardship Council (ASC).
Read the letter here.
