Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
Aquaculture Opportunity Areas will expand economic opportunities in coastal and rural areas, and increase seafood security.
Overview
An AOA is a defined geographic area that has been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. NOAA will use a combination of scientific analysis and public engagement to identify areas within the AOA that may be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture.
Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and Notice of Intent
NOAA Fisheries is developing programmatic environmental impact statements to consider identifying one or more AOAs in U.S. federal waters of Southern California and the Gulf of America* (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
Fact Sheet: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
Fact Sheet: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
Why is NOAA identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs)?
NOAA has directives to preserve ocean sustainability and facilitate domestic aquaculture in the U.S. through the National Aquaculture Act of 1980, the NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy, and Executive Order 13921, “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth” (May 7, 2020). NOAA has a variety of proven science-based tools and strategies that can support these directives and help communities thoughtfully consider how and where to sustainably develop offshore aquaculture that will complement wild-capture fisheries, working waterfronts, and our nation’s seafood processing and distribution infrastructure.
Identifying AOAs is an opportunity to use best available global science-based guidance on sustainable aquaculture management, and support the “triple bottom line” of environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This approach has been refined and utilized widely within states and by other countries with robust, sustainable aquaculture sectors.
Considering NOAA-trust resources and stakeholder uses of a defined area will help to encourage the sustainable growth of aquaculture by siting aquaculture farms in ways that minimize impacts to those natural resources and reduce user conflicts while maximizing public input in the AOA identification process.
First Regions Selected for Focused Evaluation
NOAA’s Aquaculture Program is already moving forward to meet the mandates set by the White House and recently announced the selection of southern California and the Gulf of America as the first regions for focused evaluation to find AOAs. This selection does not mean the entire regions are opportunity areas. Instead, the selection allows NOAA to deploy our resources to investigate the two regions.
The exact AOA locations will be identified based on best-available science, including data-driven siting analysis using hundreds of types of data on ocean conditions and uses such as existing fishing locations. Stakeholder input is also essential and these AOAs will be shaped through a public process.
NOAA Announces Regions for First Two Aquaculture Opportunity Areas under Executive Order on Seafood
Regional Updates
Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements for Southern California and Gulf of America
On November 22, 2024, NOAA released two draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statements for Southern California and the Gulf of America that bring us one step closer to identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.
Two 90-day public comment periods for each document, and five total public listening sessions, were held for the public to provide feedback, which closed on February 20, 2025.
Listening Session Transcripts
- December 17, 2024, Gulf of America
- January 15, 2025, Gulf of America
- January 23, 2025, Southern California
- January 28, 2025, Southern California
February 13, 2025, Gulf of America
Notice of Intent
On May 23, 2022, NOAA Fisheries published a Notice of Intent(NOI) in the Federal Register announcing the preparation of the Southern California AOA draft PEIS. The NOI initiated a 60-day public comment period, during which NOAA requested comments concerning the scope of the proposed action to identify an AOA in Southern California. The public comment period lasted from May 23, 2022, to July 22, 2022. For an overview of the public input received during this period, view our Public Scoping Report.
- West Coast Region Southern California Aquaculture Opportunity Area
- Southern California Aquaculture Opportunity Area
- Gulf of Mexico* Aquaculture Opportunity Area Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement
Request for Information
NOAA Fisheries invited public comment on two aspects of AOAs during a 60-day public comment period. The agency requested information on (1) specific areas to consider for the first two AOAs within the Gulf of America and waters off Southern California; and (2) other areas NOAA should consider nationally for future AOAs.
- Request for Information (Fall 2020)
- Presentation Slides: Request for Information
- Public Provides Important Insights into Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
- Presentation Slides: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Update
Listening Session Transcripts
AOA Atlases Released
NOAA has released two Atlases compiling the best available science to inform the identification of AOAs in the Gulf of America and Southern California. Areas in the Atlases have characteristics expected to support multiple types of aquaculture industries including finfish, shellfish, seaweed, or some combination.
NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science developed each Atlas using more than 200 data layers accounting for key environmental, economic, social, and cultural considerations, including fishing interests and marine protected areas. The studies identified nine areas in the Gulf of America and 10 areas in the Southern California Bight that may be suitable for aquaculture, while also reducing conflicts with other ocean uses.
- Aquaculture Atlases and AOA Update Slides
- Read more about the Atlases
- Read more on the Atlas Peer Review
*Executive Order 14172, “Restoring Names That Honor American Greatness” (Jan. 20, 2025), directs that the Gulf of Mexico be renamed the Gulf of America. Gulf of America references in this website refer to the same area as the Gulf of Mexico in the applicable regulations under 50 CFR parts 216–219, 222–226, and 600–699. The name change did not result in any changes to, and had no effect on the applicability or enforceability of, any existing regulations. This website continues to use “Gulf of Mexico” when quoting statutes, existing regulations, or previously published materials.