To require the Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish an assessment program for commercial-scale offshore aquaculture through demonstration projects, to establish Aquaculture Centers of Excellence, to support aquaculture workforce development and working waterfronts, and for other purposes.
About This Bill
Committee
Latest Action · July 14, 2026
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.
The MARA Act of 2026 establishes a comprehensive regulatory framework to evaluate and permit offshore aquaculture operations in federal ocean waters while protecting marine ecosystems and coastal communities. The bill creates a five-year assessment program within the National Marine Fisheries Service to test whether fish and shellfish farming is viable given current technology and ocean conditions, followed by a permitting process for demonstration projects that must meet strict environmental standards and undergo public review by coastal states and tribes. To support industry development, the legislation provides funding for marketing and promotion grants, workforce training programs through academic institutions, regional technical assistance networks, and an aquaculture research database. The bill also mandates independent studies by the National Academies of Sciences and the Government Accountability Office to examine optimal operating methods, environmental impacts, and regulatory effectiveness over a five-year period, ensuring that any expanded aquaculture operations balance economic benefits with protection of endangered species, marine mammals, and existing fishing interests.
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