New US seafood plan cheers aquaculture advocates

United States fish farming advocacy group Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) has expressed strong support for the National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan released by the fisheries department of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), part of the US Department of Commerce. 

The plan highlights the importance of increasing sustainable US aquaculture production as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the US seafood industry. SATS previously submitted a formal letter of support during the public comment period on NOAA’s National Seafood Strategy, advocating for many of the aquaculture objectives incorporated into the final plan.

“SATS commends NOAA Fisheries for prioritising sustainable aquaculture production as a key component of its National Seafood Strategy,” said Drue Banta Winters, campaign manager of SATS.

“This plan outlines critical steps that the agency is taking to support growth of an American aquaculture sector, which includes a focus on developing an efficient, predictable, timely and science-based regulatory framework for offshore fish farming in US federal waters. Until a clear and efficient regulatory permitting process is put in place, the US will continue to miss out on the significant economic, environmental and food security benefits that offshore aquaculture would provide.”

A predictable framework

Key goals outlined in NOAA’s National Seafood Strategy Implementation Plan include:

• Accelerating progress on implementing an efficient, predictable, timely, and science-based regulatory framework for marine aquaculture by providing continued expertise and coordination for the permitting of prospective aquaculture operations, and leading the identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs), or areas that are deemed ideal for fish farms based on relevant environmental, economic and national security factors.
• Continuing to invest in aquaculture science. This includes conducting aquaculture studies to provide science-based advice and tools to minimise potential negative effects of marine aquaculture operations on the environment and to support sustainable industry development.

SATS said it continues to advocate for the need to establish a clear permitting process for offshore fish farming in US federal waters.

“Due to inefficient federal permitting processes in the US today, our nation ranks only 18th in aquaculture production globally and imports up to 85% of its seafood – half of which is estimated to come from farms in other countries,” concluded SATS.