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 Stronger America Through Seafood

Securing a stronger America through increased U.S. production of healthful, sustainable, and affordable seafood.

 

More Sustainable Seafood from U.S. Waters

Open ocean aquaculture is one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce protein and is used widely around the world to complement wild harvest, yet it remains an untapped industry here in the U.S.

Due to the lack of a pathway for the farming of seafood in federal waters, the U.S. ranks only 18th in aquaculture production globally and imports up to 85% of its seafood – half of which is estimated to come from fish farms in other countries. 

There is growing bipartisan consensus in Congress—as well as among seafood industry leaders, environmental groups, chefs, and academics—on legislation to expand U.S. aquaculture.

 Explore our fact sheets and links to scientific research to learn more about how America would benefit from the expansion of aquaculture in our waters.

 

Learn about Aquaculture’s Benefits

 

“Tipping the Scales” Newsletter Highlights

Tipping the Scales Newsletter
Interview with WWF's Aquaculture Expert on the Industry’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity
Interview with WWF's Aquaculture Expert on the Industry’s Trillion-Dollar Opportunity

This month, Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) interviewed Dr. Sergio Nates, Senior Director for Aquaculture at the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the world’s leading conservation organization. In July 2025, the World Wildlife Fund and the World Bank released a new report, Harnessing the Waters: A Trillion Dollar Investment Opportunity in Sustainable Aquaculture, which recognized aquaculture as one of the most promising opportunities for building a more sustainable food system over the next 25 years. The report found that aquaculture could generate 22 million new jobs by 2050 and presents a $1.5 trillion investment opportunity in the sector.

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Read Our New Op-Ed in The Hill: Aquaculture can help produce more US seafood
Read Our New Op-Ed in The Hill: Aquaculture can help produce more US seafood

In a new op-ed running in The Hill, campaign manager for Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS), Drue Banta Winters, explains how the expansion of aquaculture in federal waters can help increase our supply of American-raised seafood sustainably.  New legislation in Congress, the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025 (S.2586), which was introduced last month by U.S. Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS), would help create a pathway for open ocean aquaculture in America.

Read the op-ed here.

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New Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Congress to Advance Open Ocean Aquaculture
New Bipartisan Bill Introduced in Congress to Advance Open Ocean Aquaculture

On July 31, Senators Brian Schatz (D-HI) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) introduced the bipartisan Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025, a bill that would advance the development of commercial-scale open ocean aquaculture in U.S. federal waters—enabling the U.S. to responsibly grow more sustainable seafood domestically.

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House Hearing Demonstrates Bipartisan Interest in Growing U.S. Aquaculture
House Hearing Demonstrates Bipartisan Interest in Growing U.S. Aquaculture

Last week on Capitol Hill, Congress made clear there is bipartisan momentum for expanding U.S. aquaculture. The need for federal legislation to support expansion of U.S. aquaculture was also a key topic of conversation during a June 3 panel during Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) entitled, “Red, White and Blue Fisheries: Advancing U.S. Seafood Competitiveness.” There is growing bipartisan consensus in Congress—and strong support from seafood industry leaders, environmental groups, chefs, and academics—for legislation to expand U.S. aquaculture. The time for action is now. With the right federal policies in place, the U.S. will unlock the full potential of aquaculture and reclaim our position as a global leader in sustainable ocean food production.

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SATS Members Advocate for Open Ocean Aquaculture Growth
SATS Members Advocate for Open Ocean Aquaculture Growth

Two members of Stronger America Through Seafood — Neil Anthony Sims, founder and CEO of Ocean Era, and Dick Jones, CEO of Blue Ocean Mariculture—recently participated in a webinar hosted by the Soy Aquaculture Alliance on “Open Ocean Farming: Perspectives on Marine Aquaculture.” As fish farming business experts, the duo discussed how expanding aquaculture in U.S. federal waters would help meet rising seafood demand, support economic growth, and reduce pressure on wild fisheries.

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