October 1, 2020

 

US bill seeks to develop offshore aquaculture

 

 

Three senators have crossed party lines as they introduced a bipartisan legislation, the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act (S. 4723), in the US Senate.

 

The AQUAA Act, which has a counterpart legislation in the US House, seeks to support the development of an offshore aquaculture industry in the US to increase the production of sustainable seafood and establish new economic opportunities in federal waters, SeaWestNews reported.

 

The Act-authored by Senators Roger Wicker (Republican-Mississippi), Brian Schatz (Democratic-Hawaii) and Marco Rubio (Rep.-Florida)-sets the stage for a federal regulatory system to govern offshore aquaculture, opening a pathway to large-scale seafood farming in the US exclusive economic zone.

 

It would also establish a research and technology grant programme to fund innovative research and extension services focused on improving and advancing sustainable domestic aquaculture.

 

In co-filing the bill, Senator Wicker explained that despite the fact that aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector, the US lacks a comprehensive, nationwide system for permitting in federal waters.

 

National standards for offshore aquaculture

 

"This deficiency prevents the development of aquaculture farms, leading to more seafood imports. Our legislation would establish national standards for offshore aquaculture, enabling US producers to create jobs and meet the growing demand for fresh, local seafood".

 

Bill DiMento, president of Stronger America through Seafood (SATS) and vice president of Corporate Sustainability and Government Affairs at High Liner Foods, said, "The expansion of domestic offshore aquaculture is a win-win for American communities nationwide".

 

"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. Because of the opportunities that aquaculture can provide American communities, there is growing bipartisan support and momentum for federal action on aquaculture", he added.

 

Tony Dal Ponte, vice president of SATS and general counsel at Pacific Seafood, also said a clear, predictable regulatory framework will benefit not just the seafood industry but also the coastal communities who rely on it to support their local economies.

 

The US currently imports at least 85% of its seafood, about half from aquaculture in other countries, as per report.