A bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Office of Aquaculture and establish commercial-scale demonstration projects.
The projects would direct NOAA to permit offshore aquaculture, creating opportunities for the aquaculture industry to grow. It will also fund workforce development and Aquaculture Centers of Excellence to improve workforce and industry capacity.
The Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 was co-sponsored by Sens. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii).
The bill “would cut red tape for job creators on the Gulf Coast and improve workforce development,” Wicker said in a press release. “Increasing seafood infrastructure at ports is necessary to have a thriving and sustainable industry. This legislation would promote seafood production in the United States and would decrease American reliance on seafood imports.”
Schatz said MARA would support the responsible assessment of offshore aquaculture by expanding research and supporting workforce and infrastructure development.
“Offshore aquaculture can help meet growing seafood demand, support coastal economies, and reduce imports,” Schatz said.
