MARA Act of 2025
Analysis under review: This bill has generated analysis that may be too generic or incomplete. Clause-level evidence remains available below.
Summary
What This Bill Does
This bill creates a federal framework for offshore fish farming (aquaculture) in U.S. ocean waters. It establishes an Office of Aquaculture within NOAA to issue permits for 10-year demonstration projects, conduct research on sustainable practices, and determine whether large-scale offshore aquaculture is environmentally and economically viable in the U.S.
Who Benefits and How
Aquaculture companies and investors gain access to new federal permits allowing commercial-scale fish farming in federal waters, with regulatory certainty and technical assistance from NOAA. Minority-serving institutions and tribal colleges receive dedicated grant funding ($25M/year) to establish Aquaculture Centers of Excellence for workforce training. Commercial fishing communities benefit from $20M/year in grants to preserve working waterfronts and fishing infrastructure.
Who Bears the Burden and How
Offshore aquaculture operators must comply with extensive environmental requirements including monitoring, reporting, escape prevention plans, and coordination with coastal states and tribes. Federal agencies (NOAA, EPA, Army Corps) must coordinate permit reviews within 180 days. There are no new costs imposed on taxpayers beyond the authorized appropriations.
Key Provisions
- Creates NOAA Office of Aquaculture with regional coordinators to oversee demonstration permits
- Requires 10-year demonstration projects to use native species, prevent escapes, and minimize environmental impacts
- Authorizes $25M/year for Aquaculture Centers of Excellence at minority-serving institutions
- Authorizes $20M/year for Working Waterfronts Preservation grants
- Commissions National Academies study and GAO report on offshore aquaculture viability
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
Establishes a federal regulatory framework for offshore aquaculture (fish farming) in U.S. waters through NOAA demonstration projects, research programs, and industry support.
Key Policy Areas
Fisheries & Aquaculture, Environmental Protection, Economic Development, Higher Education, Workforce Development
Primary Purpose
Establishes a federal regulatory framework for offshore aquaculture (fish farming) in U.S. waters through NOAA demonstration projects, research programs, and industry support.
Policy Domains
Title I - Offshore Aquaculture Program
Identified Gains
- Aquaculture industry operators
- NOAA
- Seafood industry
Identified Costs
- Federal budget
Title II - Assessment and Permits
Identified Gains
- Aquaculture companies seeking federal permits
- Academic research institutions
- Seafood producers
Identified Costs
- Aquaculture permit applicants (compliance costs)
- Coastal states and tribes (consultation requirements)
- Environmental agencies
Title IV - Studies and Reports
Identified Gains
- Congress
- Policymakers
- Research community
Identified Costs
- National Academies (study mandate)
- GAO (report mandate)
Title III - Industry Support
Identified Gains
- Minority-serving institutions
- Tribal colleges
- Commercial fishing communities
- Aquaculture workforce
- Working waterfront businesses
Identified Costs
- Federal budget (appropriations)
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
In CommitteeMr. Wicker (for himself and Mr. Schatz) introduced the following …
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, …
Introduced in Senate
Stakeholder Effects
cui bono?How this legislation distributes effects. Mention counts reflect frequency, not effect magnitude.
Aquaculture applicants with permits in process, Aquaculture demonstration project operators, Aquaculture industry
Offshore aquaculture facility operators faces effects in multiple directions
Positive-direction: Aquaculture applicants with permits in process, Aquaculture industry, Aquaculture industry (future regulatory clarity), Aquaculture permit applicants, Aquaculture workforce trainees, Aquaculture workforce/employees, Legal and regulatory clarity for aquaculture sector, Offshore aquaculture companies, Offshore aquaculture industry, Offshore aquaculture industry (regulatory predictability)
Negative-direction: Aquaculture demonstration project operators, Offshore aquaculture demonstration project operators
Congress, Congress and policymakers, Federal permitting agencies (EPA, Army Corps, etc.)
Positive-direction: Congress, Congress and policymakers
Negative-direction: Federal permitting agencies (EPA, Army Corps, etc.), Government Accountability Office, NOAA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Minority-serving institutions, Native Hawaiian-serving and Alaska Native-serving institutions
Commercial fishing industry, Fishery workers impacted by COVID-19 or disasters, For-hire recreational fishing operators
Environmental justice communities, Marine wildlife and ecosystem, Marine wildlife and protected species
Coastal communities, Coastal states seeking aquaculture partnerships
Financial institutions lending to aquaculture
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
- "the_administration"
- → National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of NOAA
- "the_secretary"
- → Secretary of Commerce
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of NOAA
- "the_administrator"
- → Administrator of NOAA
- "comptroller_general"
- → Comptroller General of the United States (GAO)
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
Aquaculture conducted in the exclusive economic zone (federal waters beyond state jurisdiction)
Any activity involved in the propagation, rearing, or attempted propagation or rearing of cultured species; excludes capturing juvenile finfish to rear to maturity or rearing for wild population enhancement
Any species propagated and reared for marine aquaculture, including larval marine shellfish that self-recruit; excludes birds, reptiles, and mammals
An installation, structure, or area of seabed/water column used for offshore aquaculture
Any coastal State or Indian Tribe whose land, Tribal land, or waters are adjacent to or used as a support base for a project, with reasonable probability of significant effect
Includes facility owners/operators, Regional Fishery Management Councils, interstate fisheries commissions, conservation organizations, fisheries associations, state/county governments, Indian Tribes, Native Hawaiian organizations, and other interested parties
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