U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) have introduced the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 (S.2586). The legislation seeks to jumpstart commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters – offering a pathway to sustainably increase seafood production, reduce reliance on imports, and revitalize coastal economies.

Key Provisions of the MARA Act

The MARA Act proposes a suite of measures to reduce regulatory bottlenecks and build out the foundations of a federal aquaculture program, including:

• Assessment Program: Launching commercial-scale demonstration projects to evaluate performance and environmental impact.
• NOAA Office of Aquaculture: Establishing a centralized office within NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to coordinate permitting efforts.
• Streamlined Permitting: Setting timelines and consolidating environmental reviews to simplify the approval process.
• Workforce Development: Investing in training programs and curriculum development to cultivate the next generation of aquaculture professionals.
• Infrastructure Grants: Supporting modernization of working waterfronts and infrastructure serving both aquaculture and wild-capture sectors.

The bill draws from prior legislative efforts – including the AQUAA Act and the SEAfood Act – reflecting years of cross-party momentum aimed at growing sustainable aquaculture in U.S. waters.

The Urgency for Reform

Despite mounting pressure on wild fisheries and increasing consumer demand for sustainable seafood, the U.S. remains heavily reliant on imports – up to 85% of seafood consumed domestically is imported, much of it from foreign aquaculture operations. Meanwhile, U.S. producers face a convoluted, multi-agency regulatory process that has stymied commercial-scale development.

To date, no commercial open ocean finfish farm has successfully cleared the federal permitting process. A notable exception came in May 2025, when the EPA granted a permit for Ocean Era’s Velella Epsilon project – a small-scale demonstration farm off the coast of Florida. Yet even this modest project, with just one net pen and 20,000 fish, has faced more than seven years of regulatory hurdles.