Aquaculture Opportunity Areas

Overview

An Aquaculture Opportunity Area is a small, 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 that are environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture.

Learn more by reading the AOA frequently asked questions

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 Mexico 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

Request for Information and Public Input

NOAA Fisheries invites public comment on two aspects of AOAs during a 60-day public comment period. The agency is requesting information on (1) specific areas to consider for the first two Aquaculture Opportunity Areas within the Gulf of Mexico and waters off Southern California; and (2) other areas NOAA should consider nationally for future Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.

The deadline for comments is December 22, 2020.

View the Request for Information

Upcoming Listening Sessions

As part of the comment period NOAA will also host four public listening sessions. The listening sessions will consist of a brief presentation on AOAs followed by an opportunity for listeners to provide verbal comments to the agency. Each will focus on a specific region or national comments, but comments on each topic will be accepted at all meetings. No registration is required for the public listening sessions and individual sessions may end early if all public comments have been submitted. Participants that wish to join a call should use the links listed below. Meeting access starts 20 minutes prior to the scheduled meeting start time: 

• National Listening Session
  November 5, 2020
  6:00–8:00 p.m. ET
• Southern California Listening Session
  November 12, 2020
  9:00–11:00 a.m. PT
• Gulf of Mexico Listening Session
  November 17, 2020
  1:00–3:00 p.m. ET
• National Listening Session
  November 19, 2020
  1:00–3:00 p.m. ET
• Additional National Listening Session
  December 3 , 2020
  12:00–2:00 p.m. ET