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).
Read MoreSeafood 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.
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.
Read MoreIn 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.
Read MoreOn 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.
Read MoreLast 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.
Read MoreTwo 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.
Read MoreEvery 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.
Read MoreUp 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.
Read MoreThe 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.
Read MoreAmerican 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.
Read MoreAquaculture 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.
Read MoreStronger 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.
Read MoreNational 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.
Read MoreAs more Americans recognize the importance of sustainable food production to combat climate change and address our nation’s food security challenges, a local Long Island-based business, Manna Fish Farms, is helping to pave the way for a sustainable seafood future in the U.S. Founded by Donna Lanzetta, Manna Fish Farms is leading efforts to establish offshore farms in federal waters off the coasts of Long Island and Florida. In addition to other Manna seafood businesses, Donna is working with local universities and non-profits in these states, as well as in California, to develop Aquaculture Innovation Centers. With a strong commitment to sustainability and transparency, and planned farm operations based on the latest science, research, and technology, Manna Fish Farms seeks to raise finfish, shellfish, and seaweed in local waters for American families to enjoy.
Read MoreVirginia boasts a thriving seafood industry—and presents a clear opportunity for even greater growth through the continued expansion of aquaculture. A 2022 Virginia Tech study found that Virginia's aquaculture industry boosts the state's economy by providing jobs and supporting related businesses. A steady supply of seafood—both wild and farmed—coming into waterfront communities and ports helps create jobs across the seafood supply chain. There is clear potential for greater economic opportunities through the continued expansion of fish farming. This opportunity highlights the need for federal legislation to support offshore aquaculture in U.S. federal waters.
Read MoreThis month, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) interviewed Michael Rust, Ph.D., a Senior Research Fellow at Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, working on research projects that advance understanding, governance, and development of sustainable aquaculture in the context of climate change and seafood demand. As we celebrate National Ocean Month and reflect on the valuable resources provided to us by our ocean waters, it is a timely reminder of the potential that offshore aquaculture would provide to American communities as we seek ways to raise more nutritious and climate-friendly seafood here in America, while working in complement with our wild capture fisheries.
Read MoreSeafood advocates from across the country will be on Capitol Hill this week during a two-day legislative fly-in hosted by Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) to educate lawmakers on the benefits a fish farming industry in federal waters would bring to American communities.
Read MoreIn celebration of Earth Month, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) interviewed Tyler Sclodnick, the Principal Scientist and Aquaculture Science Services Lead at Innovasea. Tyler discusses the continued advancements in science and technology that help to make aquaculture one of the most sustainable forms of protein production today and explains why the U.S. should support the expansion of an offshore aquaculture industry to increase our supply of healthful and affordable seafood.
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