The “Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture” (AQUAA) Act, legislation drafted to streamline offshore aquaculture permitting in the US, is gaining momentum in congress. Please see below a coalition letter to congress supporting offshore aquaculture. We urge your support and invite you to sign on to this coalition letter. If interested, please email info@caaquaculture.org by September 12th with your name, company information, and company logo.
The most recent draft of the AQUAA Act can be viewed here.
Coalition Letter
September XX, 2019
Dear Senator/Representative,
We are contacting you in support of the Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act, draft legislation being circulated by Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) that will enable the growth of sustainable U.S. marine aquaculture.
Demand for healthful, affordable, and sustainable protein is increasing dramatically. Globally, aquaculture is one of the fastest growing forms of food production. According to the World Bank, by 2030, aquaculture’s share in global seafood production will expand to supply over 60% of fish for human consumption, whereas wild-capture seafood production will remain steady. Marine aquaculture requires no land, minimal fresh water and a relatively small amount of space to provide abundant, healthful seafood making it the most efficient means of animal protein production. Further, farmed seafood provides a source for local, traceable, affordable meal options that benefit public health.
The United States’ long coastline, expansive Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), skilled labor force, superior technology, ample feed sources, and growing seafood market put it at the top of the list of countries with aquaculture potential. In fact, a doubling of U.S. aquaculture production to about 1 million tons could create an additional 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, assuming 20 direct jobs per 1,000 tons of seafood produced, or five jobs per 1,000 tons in equipment, feeds, processing, marketing, and food service. These jobs could provide stable, year-round employment opportunities in coastal and fishing communities where opportunities are often limited and seasonally dependent.
Unfortunately, the U.S. ranks only 16th globally in aquaculture production. The problem? U.S. marine aquaculture is constrained by regulatory hurdles, including overlapping jurisdiction of federal, state, and local governments, and the absence of a clearly-defined permitting process. As a result, American investment, jobs, and technology are forced overseas while our dependence on imported seafood continues to rise – The U.S. now imports 91% of our seafood. Until Congress acts, the economic, environmental and societal benefits of aquaculture will remain inaccessible in the U.S.
To remedy these challenges, the AQUAA Act establishes a clear permitting process for U.S. marine aquaculture and prioritizes environmental and societal health by establishing National Standards for Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture. AQUAA leverages modern siting and monitoring technologies to mitigate impacts on other ocean-based industries and ecosystems. It also provides for strict federal enforcement and includes a process for robust public input which ensures that coastal communities and states are considered prior to permitting new operations. In short, AQUAA provides much-needed regulatory certainty for U.S. marine farmers while also preserving the environment, local economies and public health. AQUAA will lead to increased U.S. seafood production that benefits ALL Americans.
For these reasons, we encourage your support of the AQUAA Act. With quick action by the U.S. Congress, Americans may soon see marine aquaculture become a reality for the betterment of our businesses and of our citizens.
Sincerely,
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