On October 14, U.S. Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS), Ed Case (D-HI), Kat Cammack (R-FL), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA) introduced the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025, a bipartisan bill to strengthen the nation’s seafood supply by advancing commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. The House bill mirrors companion legislation (S.2586) introduced earlier this year by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

“The MARA Act is an important step toward expanding American aquaculture and ensuring a stable, sustainable seafood supply,” said Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS). “Open ocean aquaculture complements wild fisheries, supports jobs across the seafood supply chain, and drives investment in coastal communities.”

Representative Ezell emphasized that the bill “puts the U.S. on a path to food security, environmental stewardship, and coastal economic growth,” while Rep. Cammack noted that it “will strengthen our food security and ensure that offshore aquaculture grows responsibly—with transparency, science, and accountability.”

The MARA Act has garnered bipartisan support along with endorsements from environmental groups, seafood industry leaders, chefs, and academics who see offshore aquaculture as a key opportunity to grow more seafood responsibly in U.S. waters.

Despite high demand for sustainable protein, the U.S. has already reached the limit for wild-caught seafood and currently imports most of what it consumes—half from foreign aquaculture. A lack of clear permitting pathways and overlapping federal reviews has hindered domestic growth, leaving the U.S. ranked only 18th in global seafood production.

The MARA Act seeks to address these barriers by:

• Establishing a program to assess commercial-scale aquaculture projects.
• Creating a dedicated Office of Aquaculture within NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to coordinate permitting.
• Streamlining the environmental review process with clear timelines.
• Providing grant funding to modernize working waterfronts and coastal infrastructure.
• Supporting workforce training and education to prepare the next generation of aquaculture professionals.

Expanding domestic aquaculture would generate benefits nationwide—from revitalizing ports and processing facilities to creating jobs in hatcheries, farms, feed production, and seafood retail. It would also open new markets for U.S. farmers producing ingredients for sustainable, plant-based aquafeeds such as soy, corn, peas, and flaxseed.

“SATS looks forward to working with Congress to advance this legislation and build a strong American open ocean aquaculture sector,” Winters said.