Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committee on Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
H.R. 5746, the Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025, directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish an Office of Aquaculture and launch commercial-scale offshore aquaculture demonstration projects to gather scientific data on sustainable practices while reducing the U.S. seafood trade deficit and creating coastal jobs. The bill establishes a permit process for demonstration projects lasting up to 10 years with automatic approval if NOAA takes no action within 180 days, requires strict environmental and wildlife protections based on best science and Indigenous knowledge, and mandates annual operator reporting on production, environmental impacts, and community benefits. To build workforce capacity, the legislation provides $25 million annually (2026–2030) for Aquaculture Centers of Excellence at colleges, universities, and minority-serving institutions, and allocates $50 million annually (2025–2029) for grants to preserve working waterfronts in coastal communities. NOAA will coordinate permitting across federal agencies and provide technical assistance to operators, while independent studies commissioned from the National Academies of Sciences and the Government Accountability Office will assess the environmental feasibility and regulatory effectiveness of a domestic offshore aquaculture industry within five years.
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