September 30, 2025 — Several seafood provisions being considered in United States Congress are on hold as the nation again faces the prospect of a government shutdown.
Facing a 1 October deadline for a fiscal year 2026 budget, Republican leaders in the House and Senate are pushing for lawmakers to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government open for seven weeks, but it’s unclear if there will be enough votes for it to pass the Senate.
September 9, 2025 — During a recent U.S. Congressional hearing, lawmakers touted the importance of continuing a grant program designed to help train and develop the next generation of fishers.
“This legislation will provide tools to support and establish seafood businesses and set the next generation of fishermen up for success,” U.S. Representative from American Samoa Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen said during a 3 September House Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries hearing.
August 7, 2025 — U.S. legislators in Congress have reintroduced legislation intended to ensure aquaculture producers are treated the same as livestock and crop farmers by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA).
The Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood (SEAS) Act would guarantee that aquaculture and seafood producers could access USDA grants and financial assistance while expanding federal crop insurance to cover aquaculture products.
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.
July 29, 2025 — Lawmakers in U.S. Congress will consider several fisheries provisions in the U.S. Department of the Interior budget bill, with each legislative body proposing different levels of funding for the National Fish Hatchery System, fish conservation, and stopping the spread of invasive species.
Though currently on vacation, both the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate are in the midst of the fiscal year 2026 budget process, which involves passing several massive appropriations that offer varying levels of policy guidance to the federal government.
July 28, 2025 — Legislators in the U.S. Congress are considering legislation that would exempt American sturgeon farmers from Endangered Species Act (ESA) restrictions, although opponents say the legislation would open the door to Chinese and Russian imports.
The issue stems from a 2022 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) proposal to list four species of sturgeon – Russian, ship, Persian, and stellate – under the ESA. The rule was decried by the caviar industry at the time for not differentiating between sustainably farm-raised sturgeon and wild populations. With other species, such as Atlantic salmon, U.S. regulators have found ways to allow aquaculture operations to continue to trade fish legally even though it was listed as endangered in the Gulf of America, opponents said at the time.
December 20, 2024 — Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress are scrambling to pass a continuing resolution that will keep the government funded through March after President-elect Donald Trump pressured House leaders to scrap a carefully negotiated deal.
Congress has already missed its mandated 30 September deadline for fiscal year 2025 appropriations, punting any disagreements on the budget until after the November elections.
September 24, 2024 — The U.S. Congress is postponing debate over 2025 funding for NOAA Fisheries – and several other partisan spending disagreements between the House and Senate – in favor of a temporary spending bill that would avert a government shutdown.
With the 2025 budget deadline of 30 September fast approaching, federal lawmakers are scrambling to pass a bipartisan short-term spending bill that would keep the government operating over through 20 December and push back any difficult budget debates until after the November elections.