MARA Act of 2025

Bill Number

H.R. 5746

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 1

Policy Area

Public Lands and Natural Resources

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2025-10-14: 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.

Last Updated

2026-01-08T09:06:59Z

AI-Generated Summary

Purpose of the Legislation

The Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025 (MARA Act of 2025) aims to promote the safe and sustainable development of offshore aquaculture (farming of fish and other marine species in federal waters beyond state boundaries) in the United States. It seeks to address scientific, regulatory, and economic gaps by authorizing demonstration projects, supporting workforce training, preserving coastal infrastructure, and commissioning studies to reduce the U.S. seafood trade deficit while minimizing environmental risks.

Key Provisions

• Establishment of the Office of Aquaculture (Title I): Creates a dedicated office within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)'s National Marine Fisheries Service to coordinate aquaculture activities, including research, permitting, outreach, and regulatory recommendations. The office must have regional coordinators and develop performance standards for operations, emphasizing environmental compliance, native species, and adaptive management. It also establishes an aquaculture research program leveraging NOAA's existing scientific resources.

• Assessment Program and Demonstration Projects (Title II):
• Requires NOAA to launch an assessment program within 180 days of enactment to evaluate the viability of commercial-scale offshore aquaculture using best available science and stakeholder input.
• Authorizes NOAA to issue 10-year permits (renewable for another 10 years) for demonstration projects in the exclusive economic zone (federal waters up to 200 nautical miles offshore). Permits prioritize projects benefiting disaster-affected fishery workers, require compliance with environmental laws (e.g., Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act), and mandate plans for escapes, disasters, and disease.
• Includes public notice, comment periods, and priority for certain applicants; permits can be modified, terminated, or revoked for safety or environmental violations.
• Coordinates federal agency reviews to streamline permitting within 180 days and requires annual reporting on production, environmental impacts, and socioeconomic data from permit holders.

• Workforce, Financing, and Support Programs (Title III):
• General Support (Section 301): NOAA must provide grants for marketing cultured seafood, workforce training, regional expert networks, an aquaculture database (protecting confidential data), technical assistance for operators, and information to improve access to capital markets.
• Aquaculture Centers of Excellence (Section 302): Awards grants up to $25 million annually (FY 2026–2030) to minority-serving, Tribal, Native Hawaiian, or historically Black colleges/universities to develop aquaculture curricula, research, extension programs, and career pathways like apprenticeships.
• Working Waterfronts Preservation Grant Program (Section 303): Amends the Coastal Zone Management Act to create a new grant program (up to $50 million annually, FY 2025–2029) for coastal states, Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations to acquire, improve, or plan for "working waterfronts" (properties supporting fishing, boating, and aquaculture). Requires matching funds (up to 75% federal share, waivable for disadvantaged communities), public access where safe, and covenants to prevent incompatible uses.
• Outreach (Section 304): Mandates NOAA outreach on sustainable practices to the public, communities, businesses, and academics.

• Studies and Reports (Title IV):
• Contracts the National Academies' Ocean Studies Board for a study (due within 5 years) on scientific regulation of offshore aquaculture, covering environmental risks (e.g., escapes, disease, pollution), mitigation technologies, siting best practices, and recommendations for standards.
• Requires the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to report (due within 5 years) on permitting, monitoring, and regulation over 15 years, assessing feasibility, lessons learned (e.g., safety, economic benefits, synergies with wild fisheries), and recommendations for coordination and safeguards.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• New Federal Framework for Offshore Aquaculture: Introduces the first dedicated permitting system for commercial-scale demonstration projects in federal waters, previously lacking comprehensive national regulation. This builds on but does not replace existing laws like the Magnuson-Stevens Act.
• Amendments to Coastal Zone Management Act: Adds a new section (306C) for working waterfronts grants, expanding federal support for coastal infrastructure preservation to include aquaculture-related needs, with requirements for resilience planning and equitable allocation.
• Office and Research Enhancements: Formalizes a NOAA Office of Aquaculture with dedicated funding requests, integrating it with existing programs like Sea Grant, and mandates consideration of cumulative environmental impacts, vulnerable populations, and traditional knowledge—aligning with but strengthening environmental justice provisions in laws like the National Environmental Policy Act.
• Savings Clauses: Ensures permits do not override other federal/state authorizations and applies only to new applications post-enactment.

Potential Impacts

• Government Agencies: NOAA gains new responsibilities, resources, and a lead role in permitting/coordination, potentially streamlining processes but increasing workload. Other agencies (e.g., EPA, Coast Guard) must collaborate on reviews. Studies may inform future regulations, affecting budget allocations (e.g., separate line-item funding for the office).
• Citizens and Communities: Could create jobs in aquaculture operations, training, and waterfront maintenance, benefiting coastal residents, fishery workers, and underserved groups (e.g., Tribes, minority communities) through grants and priority permitting. Increases domestic seafood supply, potentially lowering prices and reducing import reliance, but requires monitoring to prevent environmental harms like wildlife entanglements or pollution.
• International Relations: Promotes U.S. competitiveness in global aquaculture markets, aligning with international standards for sustainability and labor. May influence trade by addressing the seafood deficit, but demonstration projects could affect maritime boundaries or shared fisheries with neighboring countries.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• Aquaculture Operators and Businesses: Benefit from permits, grants, technical assistance, and market promotion; must comply with reporting and standards.
• Fishery Stakeholders: Includes wild-caught fishers, processors, Tribes, Indigenous communities, and recreational users; protected through compatibility requirements, socioeconomic data collection, and synergies like shared infrastructure.
• Coastal States, Tribes, and Local Governments: Eligible for state agreements, waterfront grants, and consultations; Governors/Tribal leaders can object to permits affecting their jurisdictions.
• Educational Institutions: Minority-serving, Tribal, and Sea Grant colleges receive funding for aquaculture programs, fostering workforce development.
• Environmental and Conservation Groups: Involved in stakeholder input, studies, and oversight to ensure minimal ecosystem impacts.
• General Public and Consumers: Gain from outreach, potential job growth, and sustainable seafood, with public comment opportunities on permits.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Legal: Emphasizes science-based, adaptive regulation while upholding existing environmental laws; introduces streamlined permitting with deemed approvals if timelines lapse (without objections), potentially reducing delays but raising accountability concerns. Mandates equity considerations (e.g., for disadvantaged communities) under environmental justice principles, and protects Tribal sovereignty through consultations and traditional knowledge integration.
• Constitutional: Reinforces federal authority over exclusive economic zone resources under the Property Clause and Commerce Clause, without encroaching on state waters (except via optional agreements). Public access and covenant requirements for grants align with public trust doctrine for coastal resources.
• Political: Bipartisan sponsorship signals broad support for economic growth in fisheries amid climate challenges; prioritizes disaster recovery and underserved groups, potentially bridging rural/coastal divides. However, it may spark debates over environmental risks versus economic benefits, with studies providing neutral bases for future policy without mandating commercial expansion beyond demonstrations.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]

Cosponsors (8)

Rep. Cammack, Kat [R-FL-3], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19], Rep. Weber, Randy K. Sr. [R-TX-14], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2], Rep. Schmidt, Derek [R-KS-2], Rep. Miller-Meeks, Mariannette [R-IA-1]

Recent Actions

• 2025-10-14: 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.
• 2025-10-14: 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.
• 2025-10-14: Introduced in House
• 2025-10-14: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Marine Aquaculture Research for America Act of 2025 — issued 2025-10-14 — PDF (73 pages)