NOAA Crowdsources Best Spots to Farm Seafood in U.S. Waters!
Published Date: 7/30/2026
Notice
Summary
NOAA is asking for your help to find the best spots in U.S. waters for growing seafood through aquaculture. This effort supports a 2020 White House order to boost American seafood and create new business opportunities. If you’re interested, share your ideas by September 13, 2026, and join one of three fun online sessions to make your voice heard!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
AOA identification timetable set
NOAA is carrying out the Executive Order direction to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) on a set schedule: within 1 year of E.O. 13921 identify at least two areas, and within 2 years of identifying each area complete a Programmatic NEPA Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS). For each of the following four years NOAA will identify two additional areas and complete a PEIS for each within 2 years.
AOA status does not skip permits
If NOAA designates an Aquaculture Opportunity Area, that designation alone does not permit farms there. Any aquaculture operation proposed inside an AOA must still obtain the same Federal and state permits and authorizations required elsewhere and may need site-specific environmental surveys and additional NEPA beyond the programmatic EIS.
AOAs already identified in CA and AK
NOAA identified 13 AOAs totaling more than 21,000 acres in U.S. Federal waters of the Gulf of America and off Southern California on September 19, 2025. On February 19, 2026, NCCOS published an Atlas for Alaska identifying 77 options (ranging from 50 to 2,000 acres) across 10 study areas in Gulf of Alaska state waters.
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Key Dates
Department and Agencies
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