Bill > S2586

This bill establishes a comprehensive framework for developing offshore aquaculture in the United States through the Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act (MARA) of 2025. The bill creates an Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to oversee commercial-scale offshore aquaculture demonstration projects, with the primary goals of assessing the viability of offshore aquaculture, supporting workforce development, and reducing the U.S. seafood trade deficit. The legislation requires NOAA to establish an assessment program that will examine various aspects of offshore aquaculture, including facility design, environmental impacts, and operational methods. Key provisions include creating Aquaculture Centers of Excellence at minority-serving and other educational institutions, providing grants to support workforce development and working waterfronts, and mandating two major studies - one by the National Academies of Sciences to develop a scientific basis for offshore aquaculture regulation, and another by the Government Accountability Office to assess the permitting and regulatory landscape. The bill emphasizes sustainable practices, environmental protection, and engagement with diverse stakeholders, including Tribal and Indigenous communities, with the ultimate aim of expanding domestic seafood production and creating new economic opportunities in the aquaculture sector.

Transportation and Infrastructure

https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/2586/all-info