Advocates for Open Ocean Aquaculture Bring Facts, Food to Capitol Hill in Major MARA Act Fly-In
As global demand for protein rises, advocates highlight need for federal legislation to expand domestic seafood production, drive jobs, and strengthen economies
WASHINGTON, D.C. — May 14, 2026 — Open ocean aquaculture advocates came to Washington, D.C., to highlight their solution for meeting the growing demand for sustainable protein. With U.S. wild-caught fisheries having reached their sustainable limit, seafood industry leaders made the case for a complementary approach to meeting rising consumer demand. Industry leaders joined coalition Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) for a legislative fly-in and seafood reception on Capitol Hill on May 13, educating Members of Congress and staff on the need to establish a clear legislative pathway for open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters and the benefits of expanding domestic production.
“If the U.S. wants to keep up with countries like China, Indonesia, and India who are actively prioritizing and expanding their aquaculture industries, federal legislation is needed to establish a clear, coordinated framework for responsible expansion,” said Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of SATS. “Now is the time for Congress to act on growing more American-raised seafood in a way that helps build dockside infrastructure for wild-catch fishermen and creates new opportunities for Americans across the entire seafood supply chain.”
The bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 (S.2586/H.R. 5746) would advance a science-based approach to the development of commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture farms in U.S. federal waters. Introduced in July 2025 by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Representatives Mike Ezell (R-MS-04), Ed Case (D-HI-01), Kat Cammack (R-FL-03), and Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-19), the bill would strengthen America’s seafood industry and help increase domestic seafood production for families across the country.
The U.S. continues to fall further behind global competitors, currently ranking 20th in seafood production. The country imports most of its seafood, with roughly half sourced from overseas aquaculture. Due to overlapping environmental reviews across multiple agencies and the lack of a clear permitting framework, the U.S. does not currently have a single operating commercial-scale finfish farm in federal waters.
The MARA Act builds on years of bipartisan effort and is supported by a coalition of environmentalists, seafood industry leaders, award-winning chefs, and academics who all agree that America needs a way to responsibly expand domestic seafood production.
“We have the strongest bipartisan momentum for federal legislation to expand open ocean aquaculture in years, reflecting growing agreement that the U.S. must do more to sustainably produce more of its own seafood,” said Winters.
Participants in the SATS fly-in and seafood reception included Cargill, Innovasea, Sysco, and Zeigler Bros. The companies highlighted the significant benefits open ocean aquaculture would bring to communities nationwide. Coastal states would benefit from increased investment in port infrastructure and stronger working waterfronts, with more seafood flowing through their ports. Inland states would see growing demand for American farmers producing key fish feed ingredients such as soybeans, corn, peas, wheat, and barley. Across the country, open ocean aquaculture would create new jobs and support the seafood supply chain, from hatcheries and farms to equipment manufacturing, feed production, processing, and restaurants.
The MARA Act would:
Establish an assessment program to evaluate commercial-scale demonstration projects.
Create a dedicated Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service to coordinate federal permitting for a U.S. aquaculture program.
Set clear timelines and establish a consolidated environmental review process during the permitting approval process.
“We know there are numerous priorities in front of Congress right now, and open ocean aquaculture should be among them. Our members came to Washington to ensure Congress recognizes and acts on the bipartisan legislation that sits before it. This needs to move forward this year, for the sake of our ecosystems, our farmers, and families who rely on sustainable protein to meet their dietary needs,” concluded Winters.