U.S. Senators Roger Wicker of Mississippi and Brian Schatz of Hawaii have introduced the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act of 2025. The proposed legislation would authorize the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Aquaculture to oversee commercial-scale demonstration projects, which would include permitting offshore aquaculture operations. These measures are designed to support growth in the U.S. aquaculture industry, fund workforce development, and establish Aquaculture Centers of Excellence.
Senator Wicker stated, “Aquaculture is an important part of Mississippi’s economic growth. The Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act would cut red tape for job creators on the Gulf Coast and improve workforce development. Increasing seafood infrastructure at ports is necessary to have a thriving and sustainable industry. This legislation would promote seafood production in the United States and would decrease American reliance on seafood imports.”
Senator Schatz added, “Offshore aquaculture can help meet growing seafood demand, support coastal economies, and reduce imports. Our bill will support the responsible assessment of offshore aquaculture by expanding research and supporting workforce and infrastructure development.”
Kelly Lucas, Vice President for Research at the University of Southern Mississippi, commented on the legislation: “The MARA Act of 2025 represents a significant and strategic step forward in securing America’s food future, supporting our coastal communities, and expanding the blue economy. By investing in responsible aquaculture, workforce development, and collaborative innovation, this legislation ensures that the U.S. leads in sustainable seafood production while safeguarding our ocean ecosystems. We applaud Senators Wicker and Schatz for their bipartisan leadership in advancing aquaculture policy.”
Hunter Evans, chef and owner of Elvie’s restaurant in Jackson, Mississippi said: “As a chef and restaurant owner in Mississippi, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a guiding principle. It is also my responsibility as a chef to be mindful of the food I serve. I care deeply about where my ingredients come from and how they’re produced. The MARA Act is a step in the right direction to bring more responsibly raised American seafood to chefs like me, who want to serve fresh, traceable seafood that supports our oceans, our economy, and our communities. I’m excited about the potential to get more U.S.-produced seafood in my kitchen—and on the plates of the people I’m proud to cook for.”
Neil Sims, Founder and CEO of Ocean Era Inc., said: “The future of seafood must be both sustainable and scalable – and offshore aquaculture offers an opportunity to meet both those criteria. However, to meet offshore aquaculture’s promise here in the U.S., we need a permitting pathway that provides clear guardrails, supported by rigorous science, with a transparent process for public input. The MARA Act provides exactly that—a thoughtful framework to ensure that this industry grows in a way that produces delicious, nutritious, locally-grown seafood, while also complementing our wild fisheries, supporting coastal economies, and earning public trust through high standards and real accountability.”
Drue Banta Winters from Stronger America Through Seafood said: “Open ocean aquaculture can sustainably complement wild-capture harvesting to meet growing demand for fresh, American-raised seafood, create new job opportunities and encourage investment in working waterfront communities. We thank Senators Schatz and Wicker for their leadership in introducing legislation that will allow us to demonstrate how the U.S. can grow more of its own seafood here at home—and do so responsibly and sustainably, just like it’s already being done today in countries abroad and in our own state waters.”
