Decision Document Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Federal Waters of the Gulf of America

This decision document was developed in compliance with decision-making requirements, pursuant to the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended, and documents NOAA Fisheries’ decision regarding the proposed action of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Federal Waters of the Gulf of America. 

The proposed action of the Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement is to identify one or more locations, referred to as Aquaculture Opportunity Areas or AOAs, that may be suitable for multiple future offshore aquaculture operations in U.S. federal waters in the Gulf of America (Gulf); and to evaluate the general potential impacts associated with siting aquaculture in those locations in the future. (PDF, 4 pages)