This week, U.S. Rep. Kat Cammack, R-Fla., introduced the “Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act” (AQUAA Act).
Cammack’s bill “supports the development of a sustainable marine aquaculture industry in the United States; advances access to investment capital; develops sustainable marine aquaculture to complement sustainable fisheries and ecosystem-based management; clarifies the federal regulatory regime for sustainable offshore aquaculture; supports research and technology; and reduces the U.S. seafood trade deficit by expanding the domestic supply of seafood.”
“Aquaculture should be one of our priorities as we grow our focus on food security. In Florida, we’ve seen the benefits of aquaculture firsthand—breeding, raising, and harvesting shellfish, fish, and aquatic plants in our waters. We’ve demonstrated that it’s possible to provide healthy, fresh food that’s produced sustainably at home to support our growing population,” said Cammack.”I’m pleased to introduce the AQUAA Act with my colleagues who share the same enthusiasm for growing our domestic aquaculture industries and improving our infrastructure to feed the American population.”
U.S. Rep. Ed Case, D-Hawaii, is the main co-sponsor of the proposal. Cammack and Case lead the Aquaculture Caucus on Capitol Hill.
“For decades we have pursued the promise of open ocean aquaculture as part of our larger goal of sustainable management of our marine resources. States like Hawai’i have led the way in developing sustainable and safe aquaculture in state waters, but development in federal waters throughout our exclusive economic zone has been hampered by a confusing and often contradicting regulatory scheme that does not sufficiently protect our marine environment,” said Case. “Our bipartisan, bicameral AQUAA Act would provide a consistent efficient regulatory umbrella to help fully unlock the potential of open ocean aquaculture in a sustainable, environmentally sensitive and science-based way and grow economies for coastal states and food security for the nation. I thank Congresswoman Cammack, along with our counterparts in the Senate, Senators Schatz and Wicker, for partnering on this important bill and look forward to working with them and many others toward expanding sustainable aquaculture.”
U.S. Rep. Mike Ezell, R-Miss., is also co-sponsoring the bill.
“In order to meet the demand for fresh, American seafood, we must find ways to increase aquaculture production across our coastal states and communities,” said Ezell. “I’m proud to cosponsor the AQUAA Act that will create blue economy jobs along the Gulf Coast while protecting our most precious resources.”
Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) is also behind the bill.
Cammack’s bill was sent to the U.S. Senate Natural Resources; Agriculture; and the Transportation and Infrastructure Committees.
Over in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, and Roger Wicker, R-Miss., are championing the proposal.
