Poll shows public support for US aquaculture expansion
Aquaculture has received encouraging backing in a monthly poll of voters in the United States.
Fish farming lobby group Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) paid Echelon Insights to include several facts about aquaculture and multiple-choice response options to those facts in the May edition of its Verified Voter Omnibus, which sought the opinion of 1,200 voters.
The survey was commissioned ahead of SATS’ “legislative fly-in” during Capitol Hill Ocean Week (June 7-9), during which seafood industry representatives will meet with congressional offices in the US House of Representatives and Senate to advocate for the expansion of the country’s fish farming industry through offshore aquaculture.
Predictable pathway
Key takeways from the survey included the fact that two thirds of voters would feel more favourable towards a member of Congress who established pathways for offshore aquaculture.
Among those surveyed, 84% support establishing a clear, predictable pathway for US aquaculture when learning many American companies build aquaculture operations abroad, and 86% believe it’s important to expand US aquaculture when learning the US imports most of its seafood.
Federal policies
Sarah Brenholt, campaign manager of SATS, said: “Now is the time for Congress to act and put in place federal policies that would establish an aquaculture industry in US federal waters – and the majority of voters agree.
“According to our recent survey, more than two thirds stated they would feel more favourable toward a member of Congress who established pathways for offshore aquaculture so the US could benefit from the economic and environmental benefits that aquaculture provides.
“As SATS members meet with congressional offices this week during Capitol Hill Oceans Week, we will continue to urge Congress to act swiftly to put a clear regulatory pathway in place for American aquaculture.”
AQUAA Act
SATS argues that the lack of a clear and predictable policy framework for permitting offshore aquaculture hinders growth of an American industry because it deters investment in the US. The organisation says that federal legislation is needed to establish a policy framework that supports growth of American aquaculture production.
Current legislation in Congress, the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act (H.R.6258/S.3100), which has bipartisan support in both the US House and Senate, would establish National Standards for offshore aquaculture and clarify a regulatory system for the farming of fish in the US exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
Previous attempts to pass an AQUAA Act have failed because the two-year term of the Congress expired before the legislation could be enacted.
