A bipartisan group of lawmakers – Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19) – has introduced the Marine Aquaculture Research and Advancement (MARA) Act of 2025, aimed at strengthening the science, policy, and infrastructure behind offshore aquaculture in the United States.

The legislation directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to expand research and coordination efforts supporting sustainable, science-based offshore aquaculture, with the goal of bolstering U.S. seafood production while protecting ocean health and coastal communities.

“As we grow our offshore aquaculture sector, the MARA Act ensures we do it the right way – with science, transparency, and public engagement at the center,” said Rep. Ezell. “This bill puts the U.S. on a path toward food security, environmental stewardship, and coastal economic development.”

Rep. Cammack added, “America should be leading the world in responsible, sustainable seafood production, not outsourcing it. The MARA Act strengthens food security, supports coastal communities, and ensures growth in aquaculture happens the right way – with transparency, science, and accountability.”

Industry and environmental stakeholders have also voiced support. Maddie Voorhees of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture called the MARA Act “a forward-looking, bipartisan step toward strengthening America’s seafood supply and coastal economies,” while Drue Banta Winters of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) noted that “open-ocean aquaculture would complement wild fisheries, increase domestic seafood supply, and create jobs across the seafood supply chain.”

Key Provisions of the MARA Act of 2025

• Expands Scientific Research: Directs NOAA to advance studies on sustainable offshore aquaculture systems and their environmental impacts.
• Streamlines Permitting: Improves interagency coordination to create a clear, efficient, and transparent permitting process.
• Invests in Workforce and Infrastructure: Supports training programs and infrastructure critical to growing the U.S. aquaculture sector.
• Ensures Responsible Growth: Establishes guardrails emphasizing environmental protection, accountability, and public engagement.

Backed by a broad coalition of aquaculture leaders, researchers, and environmental organizations, the MARA Act is seen as a pivotal step toward positioning the United States as a global leader in sustainable seafood production.