Federal Policies Needed to Establish a Clear Process for Growing Seafood in U.S. Waters

By Bill DiMento, President of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) and Vice President Corporate Sustainability and Government Affairs at High Liner Foods

A law or regulation that promotes the expansion of offshore aquaculture this Congress is critical for the continued success and competitiveness of the American seafood industry. Without a predictable, affordable and efficient permitting process for offshore aquaculture, the U.S. will continue to miss out on the economic opportunities that will result from increasing our seafood production.

The expansion of offshore aquaculture, through federal policies that clarify a process for permitting sustainable offshore aquaculture here in U.S. waters, will be critical for the U.S. to meet growing consumer demand and compete globally.

Wild-caught fish is and will continue to be a key source of seafood for Americans, but it will not be able to meet the growing demand alone. Aquaculture is the solution to addressing this challenge by complimenting wild-caught fishing to increase our production of American-raised seafood and provide Americans with another source of healthful protein.

With a far lower environmental impact than terrestrial means of meat production, offshore aquaculture is one of the most resource-efficient processes for increasing protein production. It’s an environmentally friendly way to increase seafood production while we continue to sustainably manage our fisheries and natural resources.

There are economic benefits as well. American aquaculture currently meets only 5-7% of U.S. demand for seafood. Doubling aquaculture production here in the U.S. could create an additional 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, including year-round jobs for fishing communities. Increased aquaculture production would also benefit farmers of soybeans and other crops that can be used to create fish feed, providing a new market for those industries. Additionally, aquaculture would grow supportive industries, including equipment manufacturing, feed production, food processing, marketing, and food service.

As President of Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), I look forward to continuing our coalition’s mission of promoting policies that support the expansion of seafood production and aquaculture in the United States. SATS will continue to work toward federal policies that support the expansion of offshore aquaculture here in the United States. The outcome will provide a steady supply of healthy, sustainable, and affordable seafood, while creating jobs and boosting local economies.