A bipartisan group of U.S. senators on Thursday, 24 September, filed the Senate version of the AQUAA Act, a bill that would lay out the process for expanding aquaculture in federal waters.
This marks the second time U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) has filed the legislation. He also sponsored the bill in July 2018. U.S. Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) are the cosponsors. Rubio was the primary co-sponsor two years ago.
“Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector, but the U.S. lacks a comprehensive, nationwide system for permitting in federal waters,” said Wicker in a statement. “This deficiency prevents the development of aquaculture farms, leading to more seafood imports. Our legislation would establish national standards for offshore aquaculture, enabling U.S. producers to create jobs and meet the growing demand for fresh, local seafood.”
In addition to creating national guidelines for aquaculture developments, Wicker’s bill also calls for the formation of a grant program that would fund research and extension programs focused on promoting the industry.
The Trump administration has pushed the development of aquaculture as part of its “blue economy” initiative, saying it’s a way for the U.S. to reduce its seafood trade deficit.
High Liner Vice President of Corporate Sustainability and Government Affairs Bill DiMento, who serves as president of the trade group Stronger America Through Seafood – which advocates for the expansion of domestic aquaculture – called expanding aquaculture in U.S. waters a “win-win” situation.
“Growth of the American aquaculture industry would create new jobs, provide new business opportunities and grow our economy as our country recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic,” DiMento said in a statement. “Because of the opportunities that aquaculture can provide American communities, there is growing bipartisan support and momentum for federal action on aquaculture.”
However, not everyone in the seafood industry supports the concept of paving a clearer path for the development of offshore fish farms. Some fear expanding aquaculture would increase pollution and harm wild fisheries that fishermen rely on for their business. Some environmental nonprofits have also taken a stand against the bill.
“Instead of supporting the corporate takeover of our oceans, lawmakers should safeguard the economic livelihoods of fishermen and coastal residents who are already struggling and would be disproportionately harmed by industrial aquaculture,” said Rosanna Marie Neil, policy counsel for the Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, which is part of the Don’t Cage Our Ocean Coalition.
The House version of the AQUAA Act was filed in March by U.S. Reps. Collin Peterson (D-Minnesota) and Steve Palazzo (R-Mississippi). Both members also filed the same bill in the House two years ago.
Congress has around three months left to pass legislation in this session. Following the national elections in November, the new Congress will be sworn in in January and legislation that doesn’t pass both chambers would need to be refiled at that point.
Photo courtesy of Ocean Era
