October 12, 2023 — The following was released by Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture:

Sustainable seafood grown in United States offshore waters is
one step closer to being on the menu today as the U.S. Congress considers the Science-based
Equitable Aquaculture Food Act, or SEAfood Act, a bipartisan bill introduced today by
Representative Nancy Mace (R-SC) and Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-CA).

“We are grateful for the bipartisan leadership of Representatives Mace and Panetta to advance
the growth of aquaculture in U.S. federal waters,” said Andrew Zimmern, an award-winning chef
and founding member of the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture. “It’s a responsible,
science-based approach that’s good for the economy, for our domestic seafood industry, for our
ocean and for American consumers.”

The SEAfood Act is the only measure in Congress that lays the groundwork for an equitable and
inclusive seafood economy of both farmed and wild-caught fish while prioritizing data and
science in the development of offshore aquaculture in the U.S. It will be a critical first step to
help meet growing consumer demand for seafood and create jobs in vulnerable coastal
communities in the future.

“As a chef, I love using fresh, local ingredients. But when it comes to seafood, there just isn’t
enough of it,” said Mary Sue Milliken, California-based chef and co-founding CSA member. “The
SEAfood Act is a science-based approach that will lay the foundation for sustainable, equitable
offshore aquaculture in the U.S. so we can put more homegrown seafood on plates and menus.”
Up to 90% of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is imported, and half of that is farmed. The
development of offshore aquaculture can help meet the growing demand for homegrown
seafood and add stability to the domestic seafood supply chain, but the U.S. currently lacks a
federal regulatory framework with the requisite strong standards needed for sustainable,
equitable and profitable offshore aquaculture.

“I’m a fisherman, and the truth is wild-caught fish alone can’t meet the growing demand for
seafood,” said Trey MacMillian, owner of CSA’s Lowcountry Oyster Co. in South Carolina, who
traveled to Washington last month to educate members of Congress on sustainable
aquaculture. “Sustainable offshore aquaculture can help, and it creates jobs. The SEAfood Act
is the responsible first step to developing this industry.”
The SEAfood Act will:

● Charge the Government Accountability Office with producing a report that details
permitting, monitoring, and regulatory options for governing offshore aquaculture in the
U.S.;

● Direct the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete a
study on the scientific basis for efficient and effective regulation of offshore aquaculture;

● Authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to create an
offshore aquaculture assessment program that prioritizes research and transparency
using on-the-water projects that cultivate species and are operated in partnership with
land and sea grant institutions; and

● Create a grant program, under NOAA, for minority-serving educational institutions to
establish aquaculture centers of excellence that meet the needs of a growing domestic
and sustainable aquaculture industry including developing or enhancing undergraduate
and graduate aquaculture curriculum, career development and extension programs.
Earlier this year, CSA launched a video campaign featuring chefs and fish farmers advocating
for a science-backed approach to sustainable offshore aquaculture. Watch Conversations with
the Coalition here.