Advocacy

Our immediate focus is at the federal level with a two-pronged approach to initiate change. The first is through the passage of legislation to establish an open ocean aquaculture industry in the U.S. The second is through Executive branch action to increase the efficiency of existing aquaculture regulations.  

Events & Activities

December 3, 2024 - SATS sent a letter to President Trump requesting continued support for the expansion of aquaculture into U.S. federal waters to strengthen our economy, reduce our nation’s sizeable trade deficit, ensure a more secure seafood supply chain, and help increase access to affordable, American-grown seafood.

July 8, 2024 - SATS sent an letter signed by more than 50 leaders in the seafood industry to leaders of the House Natural Resources Committee in a demonstration of growing support for expanding aquaculture in U.S. federal waters to increase production of healthful, sustainable and affordable seafood in American communities.

April 24, 2024- SATS urged U.S. House and U.S. Senate Appropriations Committees to support $25 million for NOAA’s Aquaculture Office and to support $14 million for Sea Grant Aquaculture Research in the FY ’25 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies bills.

April 4, 2024 - SATS calls for clear statutory authority and a timely and affordable regulatory process for establishing farms in federal waters to enable a robust, resilient, globally competitive, and environmentally sustainable domestic aquaculture sector.

August 28, 2023 - SATS urges Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to defer to the Commerce Committee on offshore aquaculture.

August 25, 2023 - SATS Calls for Inclusion of Offshore Aquaculture in National Strategy for Sustainable Ocean Economy

June 12, 2023 - Companion Bill Introduced in U.S. House to Facilitate Growth of Offshore Aquaculture Industry in America

June 7, 2023 - Bipartisan Offshore Aquaculture Legislation Re-Introduced in U.S. Senate During 118th Congress

• View the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act

March 28, 2023 - SATS sent this letter to U.S. House and this letter U.S. Senate Committees on Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies urging Congress to support annual funding for NOAA’s Aquaculture Office.  

October 6, 2022 - New Bipartisan Aquaculture Caucus Formed in U.S. Congress

April 27, 2022 - SATS Hosts Legislative Fly-In, Advocates for Expansion of Offshore Aquaculture

February 14, 2022 - SATS and a coalition of industry and retail groups sent this letter to the U.S. Senate calling for action.

May 20, 2021 - SATS and 70 Organizations Send Letter of Request to President Biden to include Aquaculture in Policy Priorities

January 28, 2021 - Signed Letter Sent to President Biden to Request his Administration’s Support of Domestic Seafood Production through Aquaculture

October 13, 2020 - Signed Letter Sent to the U.S. Senate in Support of Expanding U.S. Seafood Production through Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture

September 25, 2020 - U.S. Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Establish National Standards for Offshore Aquaculture

• View the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act (S. 4723)

July 8, 2020 - Signed Letter to Senator Roger Wicker thanking him for his unwavering support for the U.S. seafood community

June 18, 2020 - Signed Letter to Congress in Support of the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act

May 7, 2020 - Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth

Mar. 11, 2020 - Bipartisan Bill to Establish National Standards for Offshore Aquaculture Introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives - Read the Release

March 3-5, 2019 - SATS fly-in and Congressional Briefing

February 6, 2019 - Pro-AQUAA Letter to Congress

November 11-13, 2018 - SATS annual DC Meeting and Walk the Hill Events

June 26, 2018 - Congressional Oceans Caucus Foundation Reception in Washington, DC

Mar. 14, 2018 - SATS hosts Senate briefing on aquaculture.

Mar. 13 to 15, 2018 - Walk the hill event in Washington, DC

Jan. 30, 2018 - Senate Hearing on Aquaculture - Watch the Hearing

Mar. 11 to 13, 2018 - Seafood Expo North America in Boston, MA

Feb. 19 to 21, 2018 – Aquaculture America Conference in Las Vegas, NV

Congressional Testimony & Advocacy

• U.S. Senators Marco Rubio (R-FL) and Rick Scott (R-FL), Letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Russ, July 2020

• Kathryn Unger – President, Stronger America Through Seafood, Testimony before U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, October 2019

• Dr. Paul Doremus – Deputy Assistant Administrator of Operations, NOAA, Testimony before U.S. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, October 2019

• Linda Cornish – President, Seafood Nutrition Partnership, Testimony before U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, October 2019

• Benjamin Halpern – Environmental Science and Management Professor, UC Santa Barbara, Testimony before U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, October 2019

• Stronger America Through Seafood, Letter to Congress in support of AQUAA Act, February 2019

• Don Kent – President and CEO, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute, Testimony before U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, January 2018

• Barton Seaver – Director, Sustainable Seafood and Health Initiative, Testimony before U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, January 2018

• Kelly Lucas – Director, University of Southern Mississippi Thad Cochran Marine Aquaculture Center, Testimony before U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, January 2018