Saving Seafood

Offshore aquaculture advocates send joint letter to US lawmakers pushing for MARA passage

December 2, 2025 — Advocates of enabling and expanding offshore aquaculture in the U.S. sent a joint letter to lawmakers in Congress urging them to pass the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act.

“The U.S. has the science and technology, ocean resources, and skilled seafood workforce to lead in sustainable seafood production,” Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), said in a release. “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.”

Read the full article at SeafoodSource

New tariffs could boost Gulf Coast seafood industry, as lawmakers push for sustainable aquaculture

August 8, 2025 — New tariffs ranging from 15% to 20% take effect this week on a wide range of imported goods, including fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and fish.

While shoppers may feel the pinch at the checkout, some in the U.S. seafood industry see an opportunity.

Nearly 85% of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported, according to Galveston fisherman, Scott Hickman. Major seafood suppliers including Vietnam and Indonesia both now facing new tariffs of up to 20%. The changes, part of the latest round of President Donald Trump’s trade war, are prompting renewed focus on sourcing food domestically.

For longtime Galveston fisherman Hickman, this is a welcome shift.

“America’s become addicted to cheap seafood that’s raised in ways they wouldn’t approve,” Hickman said. “Most Americans, I think, would rather spend a little bit more for the shrimp po’ boy or the crab fingers if they know it’s American-produced.”

Hickam says tariffs level the playing field for fishermen. He’s also pointing to new legislation in Congress looking to expand seafood production in the United States.

Read the full article at Click 2 Houston

Bipartisan bill introduced in U.S. Congress to advance open ocean aquaculture

August 6, 2025 — The introduction of the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 in the U.S. Congress marks a major step forward for sustainable U.S. aquaculture. This bipartisan bill establishes a momentous step forward to support the responsible research of open ocean aquaculture in the U.S. while prioritizing strong environmental standards and community resilience.

“The bipartisan consensus is clear: Congressional action is needed to build a robust American open ocean aquaculture industry, and the MARA Act lays the groundwork towards that goal,” said Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS). Banta Winters thanked Senators Schatz and Wicker for their leadership in advancing the legislation. The act aims to boost domestic seafood production in a responsible and sustainable way, similar to practices already in use both internationally and in U.S. state waters.

The Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA) also celebrates the bill introduction. “As someone deeply invested in sustainable seafood and responsible food systems, I believe the MARA Act is a landmark opportunity for American aquaculture,” said Barton Seaver, chef and founding member of the CSA. He emphasized that the bill supports a food system grounded in environmental responsibility, while also bolstering food security and coastal economies.

The U.S. currently imports the majority of its seafood, with half of that supply farmed abroad. As seafood demand grows domestically, exploring sustainable seafood production through open ocean aquaculture holds the potential to reduce reliance on imports, foster American ingenuity and innovation, bolster U.S. food security, and lower carbon emissions associated with international seafood transport—while creating jobs and economic opportunities in coastal communities.

Read the full article at Aqua Feed

The Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture Applauds New Efforts to Spur Sustainable, Inclusive Seafood Farming in Offshore U.S. Waters

October 12, 2023 — The following was released by Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture:

Sustainable seafood grown in United States offshore waters is
one step closer to being on the menu today as the U.S. Congress considers the Science-based
Equitable Aquaculture Food Act, or SEAfood Act, a bipartisan bill introduced today by
Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

“We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Mace and Panetta to advance
the growth of aquaculture in U.S. federal waters,” said Andrew Zimmern, an award-winning chef
and founding member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture. “It’s a responsible,
science-based approach that’s good for the economy, for our domestic seafood industry, for our
ocean and for American consumers.”

The SEAfood Act is the only measure in Congress that lays the groundwork for an equitable and
inclusive seafood economy of both farmed and wild-caught fish while prioritizing data and
science in the development of offshore aquaculture in the U.S. It will be a critical first step to
help meet growing consumer demand for seafood and create jobs in vulnerable coastal
communities in the future.

“As a chef, I love using fresh, local ingredients. But when it comes to seafood, there just isn’t
enough of it,” said Mary Sue Milliken, California-based chef and co-founding CSA member. “The
SEAfood Act is a science-based approach that will lay the foundation for sustainable, equitable
offshore aquaculture in the U.S. so we can put more homegrown seafood on plates and menus.”
Up to 90% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and half of that is farmed. The
development of offshore aquaculture can help meet the growing demand for homegrown
seafood and add stability to the domestic seafood supply chain, but the U.S. currently lacks a
federal regulatory framework with the requisite strong standards needed for sustainable,
equitable and profitable offshore aquaculture.

“I’m a fisherman, and the truth is wild-caught fish alone can’t meet the growing demand for
seafood,” said Trey MacMillian, owner of CSA’s Lowcountry Oyster Co. in South Carolina, who
traveled to Washington last month to educate members of Congress on sustainable
aquaculture. “Sustainable offshore aquaculture can help, and it creates jobs. The SEAfood Act
is the responsible first step to developing this industry.”
The SEAfood Act will:

● Charge the Government Accountability Office with producing a report that details
permitting, monitoring, and regulatory options for governing offshore aquaculture in the
U.S.;

● Direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete a
study on the scientific basis for efficient and effective regulation of offshore aquaculture;

● Authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create an
offshore aquaculture assessment program that prioritizes research and transparency
using on-the-water projects that cultivate species and are operated in partnership with
land and sea grant institutions; and

● Create a grant program, under NOAA, for minority-serving educational institutions to
establish aquaculture centers of excellence that meet the needs of a growing domestic
and sustainable aquaculture industry including developing or enhancing undergraduate
and graduate aquaculture curriculum, career development and extension programs.
Earlier this year, CSA launched a video campaign featuring chefs and fish farmers advocating
for a science-backed approach to sustainable offshore aquaculture. Watch Conversations with
the Coalition here.

Celebrity chefs, NGOs form Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture

July 20, 2022 — A group of celebrity chefs including Andrew Zimmern have launched a new coalition with NGOs and business leaders to promote the sustainable growth of offshore aquaculture in the United States.

The new Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA) is dedicated to charting a responsible path forward for ocean farming in U.S. offshore waters, the organization said in a press release.

Read the full article at SeaFoodSource