Report — Fall 2022 Aquaculture Policy Update - Ocean Strategies

The Aquaculture Policy Report provides timely policy and industry updates connecting sectors across the seafood supply chain to aquaculture policy development. Unsubscribe below or sign up here. 

America’s policy makers and industry experts are charting a course for the future of U.S. aquaculture, and we’re here to help track what affects you and your business. Supply chains and seafood communities nationwide have a stake in where and how aquaculture development happens and how we set standards and priorities. Keep reading for spotlights and opportunities.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING IN FEDERAL AQUACULTURE POLICY

NOAA Announces 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture

Plan lays out framework to expand a resilient aquaculture industry

In late October NOAA announced their first 5-Year Strategic Plan for Aquaculture. It outlines a framework to “support a thriving, resilient, and inclusive U.S. aquaculture industry.” The vision is to advance the aquaculture industry in a way that increases access to domestic seafood and promotes healthy marine ecosystems — and stakeholder input along the way will be critical. 

The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan (2023–2028) includes four goals that outline NOAA’s priorities for sustainable growth.

1. Manage Sustainably and Efficiently: Improve the regulatory processes for sustainable coastal and marine aquaculture through collaboration with partners.

2. Lead Science for Sustainability: Use world-class science expertise to meet management and industry needs for a thriving seafood production sector and share this knowledge broadly.

3. Educate and Exchange Information: Build awareness and support for coastal, marine, and Great Lakes aquaculture through two-way communication with diverse stakeholders and partners.

4. Support Economic Growth and Viability: Facilitate a robust aquaculture industry that thrives as a key component of a resilient seafood sector.

The NOAA Aquaculture Program consists of aquaculture offices from three agency offices: NOAA Fisheries, NOAA Sea Grant, and the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science. Leaders have flagged community-driven results as an important factor in ongoing development. Current planning evolved with feedback from public listening sessions, and future work will prioritize additional opportunities for public input.

Stakeholder voices will be integral to the process of developing and expanding federal aquaculture opportunities, including representatives of America’s wild capture fisheries and seafood supply chain. 

Update: Aquaculture Opportunity Areas

NOAA begins next step for aquaculture siting initiative

NOAA’s Aquaculture Program has now shifted efforts to assessing environmental impacts of the first two Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (named in August 2020) — areas deemed appropriate for developing offshore aquaculture resources. The formal process initiates an in-depth environmental evaluation of potential development with multiple opportunities for public input.

In May 2022, NOAA Fisheries announced its intent to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for Southern California, and the following month announced the same for the Gulf of Mexico. These announcements kicked off 60-day public scoping periods. Virtual public meetings were held throughout the summer where stakeholders could submit verbal comments on the PEIS process.

NMFS is currently reviewing all comments that were received and developing a public scoping summary.

The AOA initiative began with a Trump-era executive order in May 2020. Each step in the process incorporates a public comment period:

1. Within a year of the EO: Identify at least two geographic areas, in federal and/or state waters, suitable for commercial aquaculture. DONE.

   • In August 2020, the agency named the Gulf of Mexico and Southern California, and opened a 60-day public comment period in October 2020.

2. Within two years of IDing those areas: Complete a National Environmental Policy Act PEIS for each area. IN PROGRESS

   • Prior to beginning the PEIS process, NOAA laid out AOA Atlases for both areas in November 2021.

3. In the following four years: Identify two additional areas each year and complete a PEIS for each within two years, for a total of at least 10 areas over the course of five years. STILL TO COME

So far, NOAA’s AOA initiative has received mostly broad support from diverse stakeholder groups as science-based and stakeholder driven. As the agency moves through the steps to expand aquaculture projects in domestic waters, stakeholder input throughout the supply chain will be critical to developing aquaculture investment that complements and expands our existing sustainable seafood chain, through environmentally and socially responsible development.

AQUAA Act reintroduction

Industry coalition announces new cosponsors of bill

In September, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) announced a list of new cosponsors for the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act (AQUAA Act). The new cosponsors include Representatives Kat Cammack (R-FL), Angie Craig (D-MN), Delegate Stacey E. Plaskett (D-VI-At Large), and Senator Jerry Moran (R-KS).

Situational Summary: Congressional members took a third swipe toward comprehensive aquaculture policy last year. The Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act (AQUAA Act) was reintroduced in the Senate on October 28, 2021 by Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS), Brian Schatz (D-HI), and Marco Rubio (R-FL). This bipartisan bill would establish regulations to advance aquaculture development in U.S. federal waters. The main provisions of the bill include aquaculture siting, permitting, monitoring and enforcement. This is the third time the bill has been introduced in Congress, and this iteration is identical to its previous version, causing pause for opponents that express concern over offshore aquaculture’s impact on the marine environment and the health and sustainability of wild-capture fisheries.

Commercial fishermen want more information and analysis on what happens to seafood markets when flooded with new product, reminiscent of farmed salmon’s introduction in the 80’s and 90’s. Alaska’s seafood industry and fisheries stakeholders, a seafood political juggernaut, are adamant about a state’s right to opt-out of federal aquaculture, which was not included in this recent bill.

Proponents of the bill applaud the regulations it has laid out, as they state a major hindrance for the aquaculture industry’s responsible expansion has been the lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework and the many uncertainties within the permitting process. Supporters of increased domestic aquaculture production claim it will lead to less reliance on foreign seafood imports and therefore more food security for Americans. They also state the economic opportunity associated with aquaculture expansion, and how it will allow for the growth of other industries such as agriculture (feed production), manufacturing, and food processing and service. Working waterfronts also stand to benefit from increased activity and industry.

North Pacific

Alaska mariculture industry momentum continues to surge with new $49 million grant

The Alaska Mariculture Cluster, a coalition managed by Southeast Conference, has received major funding from the Build Back Better Regional Challenge (funded by the American Rescue Plan). The coalition was awarded a total of $49 million to help support Alaska’s growing mariculture industry.

Learn more about the Alaska Mariculture Cluster projects here.

Alaska Mariculture Alliance: a successor group to former Alaska Governor Bill Walker’s Alaska Mariculture Task Force (reauthorized in 2018 by Governor Mike Dunleavy), administered by the Alaska Fisheries Development Foundation. Its mission is to “develop and support a robust and sustainable mariculture industry, producing shellfish and aquatic plants for the long-term benefit of Alaska’s economy, environment and communities.”

Ocean Strategies is a proud associate member of the Alaska Mariculture Alliance.

West Coast

Washington DNR cancels Cooke Aquaculture permits, bans finfish farming in state waters

On Friday, November 18th, Washington State Department of Natural Resources Commissioner Hilary Franz issued an Executive Order banning all finfish farming in state waters. Citing ecological concerns to local salmon populations and the 2017 Cyprus Island netpen disaster, Commissioner Franz’s EO cancels Cooke Aquaculture’s steelhead leases. Washington follows other states like Alaska, Oregon and California, which also ban finfish farming in state waters. Learn more: Seattle Times and Cooke Aquaculture statement.

Sea cucumber aquaculture gets growing in Hawaiian fishponds

Kaua’i Sea Farms, in partnership with the Pacific American Foundation, is using a solar-powered hatchery to raise loli (Hawaiian sea cucumber) in their Hawaiian fishpond. The project is funded by NOAA and has the goal to grow loli as a high-value export product. The species will also help restore and revitalize the fishpond environment.

Maine implements program to help train fishermen in aquaculture

WOMEN IN AQUA, WORKSHOPS & WHAT’S AHEAD

Women who lead

Multisector Aquaculture Design Workshop: Charting an Inclusive Future for U.S. Seafood Production

Check out this article, authored by Meridian Institute’s Meghan Massaua and Madelyn Smith, which provides a synopsis of the workshop as well as the Workshop Design Summary Report.

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