Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture Act
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture Act updates the National Aquaculture Act of 1980. It requires periodic reviews and continuing assessments of U.S. aquaculture at least once every three years and adds catalogs of capital constraints and federal or state regulatory barriers affecting commercial aquaculture. Within 180 days, the Secretary must establish a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee made up of nonfederal members to advise on Department and interagency coordinating-group programs, aquaculture best practices using the best available science, and technical assistance to aquaculture farmers and businesses, including shellfish, algae, and land-based systems. The bill also points to capital requirements planning and regulatory constraints planning, making the federal aquaculture strategy more focused on financing barriers, permitting and regulatory obstacles, industry consultation, and practical technical assistance.
Who Benefits and How
Aquaculture farmers benefit because federal assessments must catalog capital and regulatory barriers that affect commercial ventures. Shellfish producers benefit from explicit technical-assistance coverage for shellfish aquaculture systems. Algae producers benefit because the advisory committee must address technical assistance relevant to algae systems. Land-based aquaculture businesses benefit from science-based technical assistance and regulatory-barrier planning.
Who Bears the Burden and How
USDA aquaculture program staff must run triennial assessments, establish the advisory committee, and coordinate technical assistance. Aquaculture Advisory Committee members must advise on best practices, federal programs, and industry technical assistance. Federal coordinating group agencies must account for capital constraints and regulatory barriers in aquaculture planning. State aquaculture regulators may face scrutiny when their rules are cataloged as barriers to commercial ventures.
Key Provisions
- Requires U.S. aquaculture assessments at least once every three years.
- Adds catalogs of capital constraints and federal or state regulatory barriers.
- Creates a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee within 180 days.
- Requires technical assistance for shellfish, algae, and land-based aquaculture systems.
- Strengthens capital requirements and regulatory constraints planning for commercial aquaculture.
Evidence Chain:
This summary is generated from the full bill text using AI analysis. Expand "Detailed Analysis" below for identified beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
At a Glance
What This Bill Does
Amends the National Aquaculture Act to require triennial aquaculture assessments, catalogs of capital constraints and federal or state regulatory barriers, a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee, technical assistance for shellfish, algae, and land-based systems, and capital and regulatory constraint planning for U.S. commercial aquaculture.
Key Policy Areas
Aquaculture, Agriculture, Regulatory Policy
Primary Purpose
Amends the National Aquaculture Act to require triennial aquaculture assessments, catalogs of capital constraints and federal or state regulatory barriers, a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee, technical assistance for shellfish, algae, and land-based systems, and capital and regulatory constraint planning for U.S. commercial aquaculture.
Policy Domains
Resolution provisions
Identified Gains
- Aquaculture farmers
- Shellfish producers
- Algae producers
- Land-based aquaculture businesses
Identified Costs
- USDA aquaculture program staff
- Aquaculture Advisory Committee members
- Federal coordinating group agencies
- State aquaculture regulators
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology.
Mr. LaLota introduced the following bill; which was referred to …
Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition …
Introduced in House
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Algae producers, Aquaculture farmers, Shellfish producers
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
We use a combination of our own taxonomy and classification in addition to large language models to assess meaning and potential beneficiaries. High confidence means strong textual evidence. Always verify with the original bill text.
Learn more about our methodology