Feeding America in a Changing Climate Requires the Ocean
As climate change continues to disrupt food systems and increase pressure on land‑based agriculture, there is growing recognition that the ocean must play a larger role in meeting future demand. This Earth Month is an ideal time to recognize that U.S. open ocean aquaculture—when done responsibly and sustainably—offers one of the best pathways to producing more food while protecting the planet.
The Nature Conservancy has highlighted that marine aquaculture can be “one of the most environmentally efficient ways of producing food.” The organization’s research shows that aquaculture will actively contribute to ecosystem recovery and can help restore ocean health while supporting economic development and food production in coastal communities worldwide.
The Nature Conservancy, which is one of the world’s largest environmental nonprofits, consistently emphasizes the “real potential for aquaculture to restore environmental health and improve human wellbeing.”
A 2021 report commissioned by Stronger America Through Seafood similarly found that open ocean aquaculture must be included in serious efforts to meet U.S. and global climate goals. The report, which draws from peer reviewed science and expert analysis, places aquaculture within the context of rising global food demand, with the world’s population expected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050 and protein demand projected to increase significantly.
The SATS report highlights several key climate and food system benefits of marine aquaculture:
The United States has some of the highest potential in the world for responsible aquaculture expansion due to its extensive suitable coastal waters and infrastructure access.
Well-managed marine aquaculture will produce healthy seafood protein with low greenhouse gas emissions.
Marine aquaculture will deliver additional ecosystem benefits, including improved water quality, regulation of ocean acidification, and habitat creation.
Taken together, the SATS report and The Nature Conservancy findings send a clear message: responsible open ocean aquaculture is a critical solution to the challenges of climate change and food security. Expanding into the open ocean will strengthen domestic food production, support coastal economies, and help advance climate goals.
Research also shows that shellfish and seaweed aquaculture are already delivering measurable environmental benefits. These systems produce nutrient rich protein with relatively low greenhouse gas emissions and minimal land use, while improving water quality, creating habitat, and supporting healthier and more resilient marine environments.
This Earth Month, embracing the solution of open ocean aquaculture is more practical than ever. Bipartisan legislation that would provide a path forward for U.S. open ocean aquaculture has been introduced in the House and the Senate. The Marine Aquaculture Research Act (MARA) Act will allow us to demonstrate how we can grow more seafood here at home—and do so responsibly, sustainably, and in a way that responds to the climate realities shaping our food system.