New legislation in Congress could help shape the way offshore aquaculture is regulated, resolving a long-running challenge to the growth of the industry in the U.S.
According to the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA), the SEAfood Act — introduced last week by Reps. Nancy Mace, R-S.C., and Jimmy Panetta, D-Calif. — is the “only measure in Congress that lays the groundwork for an equitable and inclusive seafood economy of both farmed and wild-caught fish.”
The bill would task the Government Accountability Office with producing a report detailing the permitting, monitoring and regulatory options for governing offshore aquaculture in the U.S.
It would also direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete a study on the scientific basis for efficient and effective regulation of offshore aquaculture.
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Lastly, the bill would create a grant program run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) as well as an offshore aquaculture assessment program to prioritize research in the sector.
CSA says “up to 90% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and half of that is farmed” in other countries. Industry advocates argue the U.S. lacks a suitable regulatory framework for aquaculture due to several factors — including disagreement about which government entity should be in charge.
“The United States has some of the best managed wild fisheries in the world, yet we import most of our seafood, much of which is aquaculture product from abroad. It’s time for the United States to explore how sustainable offshore aquaculture could develop as a complement to wild-caught fish to improve seafood security and economic resilience for our coastal communities,” said Eric Schwaab, senior vice president for people and nature at the Environmental Defense Fund.
Andrew Zimmern, an award-winning chef and founding member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture, says the new legislation is a “responsible, science-based approach that’s good for the economy” and for the domestic seafood industry, the ocean, and American consumers.
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