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Opinion Unlocking the potential of aquaculture in American waters Opinions - Energy and Environment | 1 minute ago

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Unlocking the potential of aquaculture in American waters

One of us grew up along Mississippi’s Gulf Coast and the other on Hawaii’s shores thousands of miles away, but both of us know how essential America’s seafood industry is to our nation’s economy.

From working waterfronts along our coasts, to the feed producers across America’s heartland, and seafood suppliers and distributors nationwide, America’s seafood industry supports 1.6 million jobs and contributes billions of dollars to our economy. But the U.S. still imports up to 85 percent of its seafood — half coming from fish farms overseas — instead of raising more of it sustainably here at home, even though we have the resources, technology and skilled workforce to do so.

That’s why we introduced the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act, legislation to create a pathway to support the expansion of open ocean aquaculture and create new jobs and business opportunities across the seafood supply chain.

American families want to eat more seafood — one of our healthiest and most sustainable protein sources, but American fishermen already harvest the sustainable limit of wild-caught seafood. Open ocean aquaculture isn’t about replacing wild fisheries; it’s about complementing them to help provide more American-raised seafood to American families, with new job opportunities for American workers and new markets for American farmers in the Heartland.

Open ocean aquaculture, or the raising of fish and aquatic species in open ocean waters, would help increase the supply of American-raised seafood coming into U.S. ports responsibly. Supported by many leading environmental and conservation groups, open ocean aquaculture is widely recognized as one of the most sustainable forms of protein production today; it uses the latest science, research and technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning tools, to grow healthy seafood without harming ocean ecosystems. 

Around the world, other countries are embracing aquaculture as a solution to meet rising demand for sustainable food. But the U.S. ranks only 18th in seafood production, behind nations like China, India and Indonesia. That’s because the U.S. lacks a regulatory pathway to support aquaculture in federal waters. 

Today, any American entrepreneur who wants to create a sustainable fish farm in our deep ocean waters faces duplicative and costly reviews and unpredictable permitting processes across multiple federal agencies. This regulatory uncertainty has made it nearly impossible for pioneering fish farmers to navigate the process, discouraging investment in and hindering growth of America’s aquaculture industry.

The MARA Act, which has companion legislation in the Senate, would change that. The bill establishes an assessment program to evaluate commercial-scale demonstration projects. It also provides the regulatory certainty that is currently lacking in the permitting approval process by setting clear timelines for permit approvals and establishing a consolidated environmental review process.

In addition to these critical regulatory reforms, the MARA Act encourages direct investment in America’s working waterfront communities. Commercial fishermen would benefit from collaborative aquaculture ventures that bring new activity and investment to coastal communities. Expanding aquaculture will strengthen portside infrastructure, modernize facilities, and revitalize working waterfronts. The bill also authorizes grant funding for workforce training to prepare the next generation of aquaculture professionals to lead this growing industry. 

But the benefits of aquaculture expansion extend far beyond our nation’s coastlines. The expansion of American aquaculture means new jobs and business opportunities across the seafood supply chain — from hatcheries and equipment manufacturers to feed suppliers, seafood processors and retailers.

It will also boost demand for America’s terrestrial farmers. Sustainable aquaculture relies on high-quality, American-grown crops, such as soybeans, corn, peas, wheat, barley, rice, canola, and flaxseed, which are key ingredients used in plant-based fish feeds. As demand for sustainable fish feed grows, demand for these crops will grow too, creating new markets for American farmers at a time when they are needed most.

By passing the MARA Act, Congress will help grow America’s aquaculture industry and ensure American families have greater access to fresh, healthy, and sustainably produced seafood options, while reducing our dependence on imports and strengthening our nation’s food security. We encourage our colleagues in the House and Senate to support this bill — one that stands to benefit workers, farmers, entrepreneurs and families across the country.

Mike Ezell represents Mississippi’s 4th District and is vice chair of the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries. Ed Case represents Hawaii’s 1st District.

Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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