Aquaculture

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United States marine aquaculture operates within one of the most comprehensive regulatory environments in the world. Projects that are sited in U.S. waters must meet a number of federal, state, and local regulations that ensure environmental protection, water quality, and healthy oceans.

NOAA Fisheries plays a central role in developing and implementing policies that enable marine aquaculture. We also work to ensure that aquaculture complies with existing federal laws and regulations that NOAA enforces under its marine stewardship mission.

Science and adaptive management inform NOAA policy, regulatory, and management decisions regarding aquaculture in marine waters.

National Aquaculture Policies

Regulations

NOAA conducts regulatory activities for marine aquaculture under a suite of federal statutes designed to sustain healthy oceans. The agency also engages in consultations with other agencies that issue permits for aquaculture activities in state and federal waters.

The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 established aquaculture as a national policy priority for the United States. It also created the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture as the institutional structure through which NOAA coordinates with other federal agencies on aquaculture-related activities.

Guide to Permitting Marine Aquaculture in the United States (2022)

Regulating Aquaculture

Opportunities for More Efficient Permitting of Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture 

Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth 

Section 6 of Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth (May 7, 2020), states that NOAA will serve as the lead agency for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review for aquaculture projects when the projects meet all three of the following criteria:

1. located within the EEZ and outside of the waters of any State or Territory,
2. require environmental review or authorization by two or more (federal) agencies, and
3. the agency that would otherwise be the lead agency has determined that it will prepare an environmental impact statement (EIS). 

For purposes of Executive Order 13921, environmental review is the agency procedures and processes for preparing a document required under NEPA. Authorization is any license, permit, approval, finding, determination, or other administrative decision issued by an agency that is required or authorized under Federal law in order to site, construct, reconstruct, or commence operations of a covered project administered by a Federal agency. This includes Marine Mammal Protection Act incidental take authorizations and consultations under the Endangered Species Act and the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA).

As lead agency, NOAA would ultimately be responsible for completing the NEPA EIS process. Per the E.O., NOAA would be responsible for navigating the project through the Federal environmental review and authorization process and preparing a permitting timetable for the project that is made publicly available on its website. NOAA must also identify a primary point of contact at each cooperating and participating agency. All individual agency decisions shall be recorded in one Record of Decision (ROD), unless the project sponsor requests that agencies issue separate NEPA documents, the NEPA obligations of a cooperating or participating agency have already been satisfied, or the lead agency determines that a single ROD would not best promote completion of the project's environmental review and authorization process.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and Environmental Protection Agency remain the main permitting agencies for aquaculture. These agencies, and NOAA if a NOAA permit is required consistent with NOAA's authority under MSA, would consider the specifics of a proposed aquaculture project to determine whether an EIS is appropriate, and if so, NOAA would assume the EIS lead agency role. The E.O. does not prescribe that NOAA serve as lead agency for a NEPA Environmental Assessment.

Interagency Subcommittee on Aquaculture

NOAA is a co-chair of the Subcommittee on Aquaculture (SCA). The SCA coordinates federal agencies to increase the overall effectiveness and productivity of federal aquaculture research, regulation, technology transfer, and assistance programs. 

SCA Task Force and Working Group

National Strategic Plan for Federal Aquaculture Research

National Shellfish Initiative

The National Shellfish Initiative aims to increase populations of bivalve shellfish (oysters, clams, and mussels) in our nation's coastal waters through commercial production and conservation activities. Efforts focus on encouraging shellfish aquaculture, advancing science and research, and streamlining permitting at federal, state, and local levels.

Inspired by this national initiative, the Washington State Shellfish Initiative was the first partnership to restore and expand shellfish resources to promote shellfish aquaculture and create family-wage jobs. Partners included federal and state agencies, tribes, the shellfish industry, and the restoration community.

Today there is a growing number of state shellfish initiatives including California, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Rhode Island. Alaska has also launched a mariculture initiative to expand both shellfish and seaweed farming in the state.

We are working to address the technical and scientific barriers of marine aquaculture and to provide science information for management in a number of ways. We do this through in-house research at NOAA, grants and cooperative agreements with Sea Grant and other stakeholders, and by coordinating research with other federal agencies.

International Collaboration

Aquaculture Research at NOAA Fisheries

Several NOAA Fisheries Science Centers explore a wide spectrum of aquaculture issues. These include the culture of specific species, life-cycle analysis, alternative feeds, ocean acidification, and habitat benefits and impacts. 

For example, the Northeast Fisheries Science Center Milford Laboratory, established in 1931, is located on the shore of Long Island Sound. The facility comprises two laboratory/office buildings and support buildings housing raceway and circular tanks. A 49-foot vessel, the R/V Victor Loosanoff, is also docked at the Laboratory for nearshore research. Present research emphasizes aquaculture and habitat-related work. The aquaculture program includes studies of the culture of fish and shellfish to develop methods suitable for commercial use as well as for stock enhancement and restoration. Nearshore habitats are being studied to determine what characteristics make a habitat suitable for a particular species.

Additionally, the Northwest Fisheries Science Center Environmental and Fisheries Science Division conducts research to improve methods for fisheries restoration and production in conservation hatcheries and in aquaculture. Research focuses on the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish, shellfish safety (harmful algal blooms and pathogens), and native Olympia oyster restoration. Lab research also includes alternative marine fish feeds, larval fish physiology and nutrition. 

At the NOAA Beaufort Laboratory, scientists from NOAA Fisheries and National Ocean Service conduct a variety of research including harmful algal blooms, seafloor mapping, and aquaculture. 

Explore Aquaculture Research 

NOAA has marine aquaculture research capabilities at in-house laboratories within NOAA Fisheries and the National Ocean Service. We also have research and extension capabilities through state Sea Grant programs. This story map covers the in-house projects funded by the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture. The research explores a wide spectrum of relevant aquaculture issues. These include the culture of specific species, life-cycle analysis, alternative feeds, ocean acidification, and potential habitat benefits and impacts. This Story Map serves as a tool to highlight NOAA's aquaculture research and as well as to connect researchers with topics of common interest. It is updated periodically as new projects are planned and implemented.

Story Map: NOAA Aquaculture Research

Funding Research and Technology

Since 1998, NOAA has funded aquaculture projects through the Sea Grant Marine Aquaculture grant program, a competitive grants program coordinated by the National Sea Grant College Program. Several other grant opportunities are administered or funded through NOAA Fisheries. Together these grants have funded projects that have responded to key scientific, engineering, environmental, and economic questions. These include studies of candidate species, health and nutrition, best management practices, ecosystems monitoring and management, engineered production systems, and legal and operational frameworks.

Aquaculture Funding Opportunities Directory 

NOAA Fisheries Aquaculture Funding Opportunities and Grants 

Sea Grant Aquaculture Grants

Aquaculture is present along our coasts and in our oceans across the nation. Activities and products vary by region so we have regional coordinators supporting these activities and increasing awareness of region-specific issues.

Alaska

The Alaska mariculture industry produces shellfish and aquatic plants along Alaska’s coastline. As of 2016, mariculture activity in Alaska consists of approximately 75 operations, including 65 authorized farms, seven nurseries, and three hatcheries. Most operations are located along the coastline in either Southeast or Southcentral Alaska.

Aquaculture in Alaska

New England/Mid-Atlantic

The New England/Mid-Atlantic region has a commercial marine aquaculture industry supported by a research and technology sector. Landings from marine aquaculture (predominantly Atlantic Salmon and oysters, but also clams, mussels, and other species) totaled approximately $219 million in this region in 2013. This makes aquaculture the third most valuable fishery in the region in terms of economic revenue, behind scallops and American lobster.

Farmed items in New England and the Mid-Atlantic include finfish, shellfish, and sea vegetables grown as food for human consumption. Hatchery-raised species are also used habitat (e.g., oyster) and endangered species (e.g., Atlantic salmon) restoration.

Aquaculture in New England and the Mid-Atlantic

Northwest

In the Pacific Northwest, we work closely with regional tribes, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California, the aquaculture industry, and non-governmental organizations. This work focuses on fish, shellfish, and algae species. Washington State is our nation's leading producer of farmed shellfish. The region primarily grows oysters, mussels, clam, as well as Atlantic and Pacific salmon species. 

We also work with partners to responsibly restore populations of native Olympia oysters, pinto abalone, and Pacific salmon. Aquaculture-related research at the Northwest Fisheries Science Center focuses on the effects of ocean acidification on shellfish, shellfish safety (harmful algal blooms and pathogens), and native Olympia oyster restoration.  

Aquaculture in the Northwest

Pacific Islands

The Pacific Islands region primarily grows finfish, such as kampachi (Seriola rivoliana), shrimp, and marine algae for commercial purposes.

Aquaculture in the Pacific Islands

Southeast

In the southeast, marine aquaculture focuses on stock enhancement, food production, research, and restoration efforts. Species cultured in the region include oysters, clams, red drum, spotted sea trout, flounder, snook, pompano, black sea bass, and algae. Aquaculture occurs on land in recirculating systems or ponds as well as in coastal areas or state waters. We have also provided funding for projects related to culture of red snapper, blackfin tuna, cobia, and baitfish species as well as for research into alternative diets for marine finfish.

Aquaculture in the Southeast

Southwest

California primarily grows Pacific oysters, Kumamoto oysters, and manila clams for commercial purposes. They also farm Mediterranean mussels, Atlantic oysters, red abalone, rock scallops, and seaweed. Research in the Southwest focuses on abalone recovery at the Southwest Fisheries Science Center and Olympia oyster restoration by various sectors of academia, primarily in the San Francisco Bay area.

Aquaculture in the Southwest

Sustainably farmed seafood is a smart choice for healthy people, a healthy economy, and a healthy planet. Most of the public still has limited understanding of aquaculture and may encounter information that can be out of date, inaccurate, or incomplete. Science communications sources that share accurate information can increase aquaculture and sustainable seafood literacy.

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Fact Sheets

Regional Fact Sheets

Each region of the United States features different ecosystems, a variety of water temperatures, and many different species. Just like their wild counterparts, aquaculture species need the right conditions to grow. Explore the regional aquaculture fact sheets to learn about the species, grow-out methods used, and the economic importance of aquaculture by region.

• Alaska
• California
• New England and Mid-Atlantic
• Northwest
• Pacific Islands
• Southeast

Deep-Dive Fact Sheets 

Seafood farming, if done responsibly—as it is in the US—is increasingly recognized as one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce food and protein. Farmed seafood requires far less feed than most terrestrial animals, and thirty years of lessons learned have been put into practice in U.S. aquaculture farm management and regulatory requirements. Learn more about the many facets of science-based, sustainable aquaculture in the U.S.:

• Antibiotic Use in Finfish
• Aquaculture and Environmental Interactions
• Aquaculture Provides Beneficial Ecosystem Services
• Climate Resilience and Aquaculture
• Disaster Assistance for Fisheries
• Marine Aquaculture in the U.S.
• Potential Risks of Aquaculture Escapes
• Regulation of Marine Aquaculture
• Sustainable Aquaculture Feeds and Fish Nutrition

Frequently Asked Questions

• Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
• Feeds for Aquaculture
• Marine Aquaculture and the Environment
• Understanding Marine Aquaculture
• Understanding Shellfish Aquaculture

Aquaculture Videos

Marine aquaculture refers to the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of aquatic plants and animals. Faced with limited fresh water and land resources, seafood farmers are cultivating the ocean. These videos explore the challenges and benefits of marine aquaculture:

• Alaska Kelp Farming: A New Sustainable Seafood Opportunity
• Aquaculture Opportunity Areas 
• The Future of Ocean Farming
• Innovative Aquaculture Tools for a Growing Industry
• Milford Lab's GoPro Aquaculture Project
• No Shell Left Behind (2020 Emmy winner)
• Ocean to Table: Stories of Food, Farming, and Conservation

Eat More Seafood

Choosing to eat more seafood is good for your health and the environment. Use these guides to master easy and flavorful seafood recipes:

• FishWatch Recipes
• Oregon Sea Grant Recipes
• Seafood Nutrition Partnership Recipes
• 9 Seafood Recipes That Will Take Your Taste Buds on Vacation

Try something new: learn how to cook Kelp Noodles Fra Diavolo.

Not sure where to start? Check out Seafood: A Fare for Every Palate for help choosing a recipe.

An Aquaculture Opportunity Area 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 that are 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 Mexico.

• Fact Sheet: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
• AOA Timeline
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Webinar Recordings

Why is NOAA identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs)?

NOAA has directives to preserve ocean sustainability and facilitate domestic aquaculture in the United States 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. These 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 the 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. This is done 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. We 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. This includes 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

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 Mexico 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

• November 5, 2020
• November 12, 2020
• November 17, 2020
• November 19, 2020
• December 3, 2020

AOA Atlases Released

NOAA has released two Atlases compiling the best available science to inform the identification of AOAs in the Gulf of Mexico 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 Mexico 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