# The SEAfood Act: What It Means for Fish Farming in U.S. Waters

This bill is about setting up a system to study and regulate fish farming in the ocean waters off the U.S. coast. Right now, there's no federal program managing offshore aquaculture—fish farms operating in federal waters beyond state control. This bill creates one, starting with a major research project and then establishing rules for how these operations should work.

The first major step is commissioning a comprehensive study from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. This independent scientific organization will spend about two and a half years examining whether offshore fish farming is a good idea for America, and if so, what the best practices should be. The study will look at the real environmental risks—like whether farmed fish escape and breed with wild fish, whether antibiotics used in farms pollute the ocean, how farms affect marine wildlife, and what happens to wild fish populations when farms attract predators. The researchers will also examine feed sources, disease spread, and conflicts with other ocean users like commercial fishermen. Once finished, Congress and the public get the full report.

Beyond the study, the bill sets up an assessment program that will evaluate specific offshore aquaculture proposals. It emphasizes protecting communities that have historically been left out of decision-making—including low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, Indigenous peoples, and fishing communities. The bill requires that these groups have a real voice in where farms can be located and how they operate. It also establishes "Aquaculture Centers of Excellence" at minority-serving colleges, historically Black universities, and tribal colleges to build expertise and ensure underrepresented groups participate in developing this industry. Essentially, the bill treats offshore fish farming as something that needs careful scientific oversight and community input before it expands in U.S. waters.