November 25, 2020 — The following was released by NOAA Fisheries:
December 3, 2020 from 12 pm to 2 pm ET
Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA), which are called for in the May 2020 Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, are defined as geographic areas that have been evaluated for their potential for sustainable commercial aquaculture. Selected areas are expected to support multiple aquaculture farm sites of varying types including finfish, shellfish, seaweed, or some combination of these farm types.
We have added a fifth AOA listening session to grant stakeholders another opportunity to provide comment. To ensure that all stakeholders, including the recreational and commercial fishing industries, from whom we would like to hear more, have the opportunity to provide comments the additional public listening session will be held December 3, 2020 from 12:00-2:00 ET.
Through the current request for information, which is open until December 22, the public and our stakeholders are encouraged to provide comments for AOA creation in federal waters off of southern California and the Gulf of Mexico as well as the location of future AOAs. The synthesis of public input and NOAA’s powerful data-driven siting analysis are essential elements to highlight space that is environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture. We look forward to hearing from you.