Aquaculture Opportunity Areas Mark Important Step Forward for U.S. Seafood Industry

By Paul Doremus, NOAA Fisheries’ Deputy Assistant Administrator for Operations 

I am pleased to be able to share that NOAA Fisheries has taken the first step in a proactive process that will create opportunities for aquaculture farmers and foster the U.S. aquaculture industry as a needed complement to our wild-caught fisheries. Last month, we announced that the first two Aquaculture Opportunity Areas will ultimately be located somewhere within the federal waters off southern California and in the Gulf of Mexico.  

Those familiar with the President’s Executive Order on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth may already know that AOAs are geographic areas that have been evaluated for their potential for sustainable commercial aquaculture. To expand sustainable aquaculture growth and meet the mandates of the Executive Order, we plan to select two new AOAs per year until 2025, for a total of 10 opportunity areas.  

Each AOA will tap into existing regional industry and infrastructure, such as docks, processing facilities, and transportation routes, to create new sustainable economic opportunities. And while farmers will still need to apply for the appropriate permits, AOAs will also create permitting efficiencies that could save applicants time by reducing the need for duplicative efforts by federal and state agencies.  

The exact locations and configurations of all 10 opportunity areas will be shaped by a combination of powerful data-driven siting analysis and extensive public input. We expect the first two areas off Southern California and in the Gulf of Mexico to support 3–5 new commercial aquaculture farm sites of varying types, including finfish, shellfish, macroalgae, or some combination of these.  

We have not selected regions for the remaining eight AOAs yet, but each will vary in size, configuration, and cultivated species depending on the specifics of the location. These could be established in both federal and state waters.  

Your input will be critical to finding spaces that are environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture. In the coming months and years, there will be multiple opportunities to participate in the process. The first will be a request for input later this year regarding siting considerations for southern California, the Gulf of Mexico, and nationally. Watch the NOAA Fisheries website for opportunities to share your insights.  

With AOAs, NOAA Fisheries is continuing our commitment to developing a sustainable domestic aquaculture industry. Each area will provide an exciting opportunity to diversify U.S. seafood production, and we look forward to hearing from you and other stakeholders as we work to propel our seafood supply into a more resilient future.