As the U.S. seeks to grow more seafood in U.S. waters, universities like the University of New Hampshire (UNH) are leading the way in education, training and science-based research to move the industry forward. To better understand what’s needed, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) interviewed Mike Coogan, a marine biologist and research assistant professor at UNH, to discuss why continued research investment and the creation of a federal pathway that supports open ocean aquaculture development in U.S. federal waters are essential to responsibly growing domestic seafood production and training the next-generation workforce.

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Demand for sustainable protein is rising, yet the U.S. already harvests wild caught seafood at its sustainable limit. As a result, America imports most of the seafood we consume, half from fish farms in other countries. So, what’s holding the U.S. back from producing more of its own seafood, in its own waters? Three leading experts break down the challenges and opportunities of expanding American open ocean aquaculture in Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS)’s new three-part video series.

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As bipartisan momentum builds around expanding domestic aquaculture and the industry emerges as a growing source of job creation for Americans in both coastal and inland states, universities across the country are expanding their aquaculture programs to train the next generation of aquaculture professionals.

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2025 has been a monumental year for U.S. open ocean aquaculture, with growing bipartisan momentum on Capitol Hill and expanding support from environmental organizations, seafood industry leaders, chefs, and academic experts. Together, these voices are aligning around a shared goal: increasing America’s supply of healthy, sustainable seafood by responsibly expanding domestic aquaculture in U.S. federal waters.

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America’s oceans offer a powerful opportunity to help increase domestic seafood production, benefiting both families and farmers in the Heartland. While open ocean aquaculture cultivates seafood in deep water off the shore, the sustainable fish feeds that are supporting offshore fish farms include ingredients sourced across the U.S. The expansion of American aquaculture would increase demand for farm-raised crops, including soybeans, wheat and corn, which can be used in fish feed, creating new markets and opportunities for American farmers, many of whom continue to feel the impact of tariffs on their exported crops. 

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October is National Seafood Month, a time to celebrate the delicious seafood on our plates. Seafood is a healthy source of protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and essential vitamins and minerals that benefit our health, our economy, and our planet. And the aquaculture industry plays a key role in helping supply sustainable seafood to American families.

 

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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 bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025, a bill that would strengthen America’s seafood industry by advancing commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters. The bill is companion legislation to the bipartisan Senate measure (S.2586) introduced earlier this year by Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

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Seafood leaders and allies are heading to Capitol Hill this week for a two-day legislative fly-in hosted by Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS). Their message to Congress: expanding open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters would help increase America’s seafood supply and create new jobs nationwide. Federal legislation is needed to create a pathway for open ocean aquaculture in America. The bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025 (S.2586), introduced in July 2025 by Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), would advance development of commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture farms in U.S. federal waters.

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This month, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) interviewed Dr. Sergio Nates, Senior Director for Aquaculture at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization. In July 2025, the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank released a new report, Harnessing the Waters: A Trillion Dollar Investment Opportunity in Sustainable Aquaculture, which recognized aquaculture as one of the most promising opportunities for building a more sustainable food system over the next 25 years. The report found that aquaculture could generate 22 million new jobs by 2050 and presents a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity in the sector.

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In a new op-ed running in The Hill, campaign manager for Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), Drue Banta Winters, explains how the expansion of aquaculture in federal waters can help increase our supply of American-raised seafood sustainably.  New legislation in Congress, the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025 (S.2586), which was introduced last month by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), would help create a pathway for open ocean aquaculture in America.

Read the op-ed here.

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On July 31, Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025, a bill that would advance the development of commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters—enabling the U.S. to responsibly grow more sustainable seafood domestically.

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Last week on Capitol Hill, Congress made clear there is bipartisan momentum for expanding U.S. aquaculture. The need for federal legislation to support expansion of U.S. aquaculture was also a key topic of conversation during a June 3 panel during Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) entitled, “Red, White and Blue Fisheries: Advancing U.S. Seafood Competitiveness.” There is growing bipartisan consensus in Congress—and strong support from seafood industry leaders, environmental groups, chefs, and academics—for legislation to expand U.S. aquaculture. The time for action is now. With the right federal policies in place, the U.S. will unlock the full potential of aquaculture and reclaim our position as a global leader in sustainable ocean food production.

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Two members of Stronger America Through Seafood — Neil Anthony Sims, founder and CEO of Ocean Era, and Dick Jones, CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture—recently participated in a webinar hosted by the Soy Aquaculture Alliance on “Open Ocean Farming: Perspectives on Marine Aquaculture.” As fish farming business experts, the duo discussed how expanding aquaculture in U.S. federal waters would help meet rising seafood demand, support economic growth, and reduce pressure on wild fisheries.

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Every year, China imports nearly one-third of all U.S. seafood exports, processes the seafood, and then sends more than half of that seafood (57%) back to the U.S. for consumption, according to a NOAA report. Why do we send American seafood abroad just to bring it back home? The short answer is because we’ve lost the ability to process all of our seafood here at home.

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Up to 85% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, with 50% from farms. So, why not grow our own local food? Some states are leading the charge on aquaculture – and strengthening their economies and access to sustainable seafood. The Southern states have been leaders in American aquaculture production. According to the USDA’s most recent Census of Aquaculture, released in December, five states accounted for 55% of aquaculture sales and 49% of aquaculture farms in 2023—and four of the five were in the South: Mississippi, Louisiana, Florida, and Alabama.

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The Trump administration’s latest tariffs have the potential to create challenges for the U.S. seafood industry—affecting supply chains, pricing, and consumer access—but also make the case for a stronger domestic seafood industry, especially through aquaculture. Now is the time to support and expand sustainable U.S. aquaculture growth—protecting both American consumers and businesses from ongoing trade instability.

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American farmed fish, produced through sustainable aquaculture practices, is a nutritional powerhouse offering a wealth of health benefits. As Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) works to expand aquaculture and increase U.S. seafood production, we wanted to provide some reminders on how this can improve Americans’ health.

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Aquaculture is quickly emerging as a key bipartisan issue – increasingly recognized by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as a critical industry to boost our nation’s economy and ensure a steady supply of healthy, sustainable, American-raised protein.

The growing bipartisan momentum for this commonsense seafood solution suggests that Congress should be able to agree on a clear pathway forward to support and expand open ocean aquaculture into U.S. federal waters.

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Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) has launched a new campaign calling on Congress to support a pathway for open ocean aquaculture in U.S. waters. Fish farming in the open ocean is hindered in America today due to the lack of federal legislation to support industry growth – costing our nation an estimated $877 million and thousands of jobs. SATS’s month-long campaign will highlight all the U.S. is missing out on in economic and environmental benefits without a thriving aquaculture industry.

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National Seafood Month is a timely reminder of seafood’s vital role in supporting American jobs and economic growth, while providing healthy, nutritious, and sustainable protein options for families in communities nationwide. Congress has the opportunity to continue to recognize the value of seafood and prioritize the future of America’s seafood industry by supporting the growth of aquaculture in federal waters. By establishing a path forward to expand open ocean aquaculture in America, the U.S. can grow our economy, create thousands of well-paying jobs, and secure a sustainable seafood supply for generations to come.

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