MARA Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
Introduced
Summary
A federal Office of Aquaculture and a coordinated program to pilot commercial-scale offshore aquaculture would create a NOAA-led framework to test ocean farming, set permit rules, and fund research and workforce support.
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- Workers and coastal communities: Would fund workforce development grants, create Aquaculture Centers of Excellence, and place at least one regional aquaculture coordinator in each NOAA Fisheries region to train and support operators.
- Seafood industry and consumers: Would aim to expand domestic seafood production and help reduce the U.S. seafood trade deficit by promoting sustainable offshore farming, preferring native species, and encouraging alternatives to wild-caught forage in feeds.
- Regulators, environment, and fishing stakeholders: Would require an offshore aquaculture assessment program within 180 days, authorize commercial-scale demonstration permits with annual environmental and socioeconomic reporting, prioritize protections against whale and turtle entanglement, and centralize interagency review with a 240-day maximum response timeline.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Grants for aquaculture training centers
If enacted, NOAA would create a grant program within one year to fund Aquaculture Centers of Excellence at eligible colleges. Grants would fund aquaculture curricula, workforce training, business support, research, and extension activities. The bill authorizes $25 million per year for fiscal years 2026 through 2030, with funds to remain available until spent.
New offshore permit rules for operators
If enacted, NOAA would be able to issue commercial-scale offshore aquaculture demonstration permits with 10-year terms that may be renewed once for another 10 years after a renewal proposal, a 60-day public comment period, and an Administrator decision within 90 days. Projects would have to grow native or historically naturalized species, avoid intentional release of risky genetically modified organisms, and use designs and plans to minimize escapes, entanglement, navigation hazards, pollution, and infrastructure loss while complying with environmental laws. Project owners would have to submit annual reports starting within one year of project start and use emergency incident reporting for protected species interactions. Federal review would be coordinated with a 240-day target, a 90-day completeness check, and an automatic-approval rule if agencies do not act; the Administrator could order modifications, end permits, or require removal after a warning and chance to fix problems.
Priority and marketing help for producers
If enacted, the Administrator would give priority to demonstration permit applicants that benefit workers who were harmed by COVID-19 or major disasters and to projects sited in designated Aquaculture Opportunity Areas. The Administrator would also use existing grant programs to support domestic and international marketing and public perception of cultured species.
National studies and oversight for aquaculture
If enacted, NOAA would start an assessment program within 180 days to evaluate offshore aquaculture viability and risks. The Ocean Studies Board would complete a science study and publish findings to Congress within five years. The Comptroller General would also report to Congress within five years on permitting, environmental, market, workforce, and regulatory lessons from the program.
New NOAA aquaculture office and help
If enacted, the bill would create an Office of Aquaculture inside the National Marine Fisheries Service and require at least one regional aquaculture coordinator in each regional fisheries office. Regional offices would build expert networks with Sea Grant, USDA centers, universities, and Cooperative Extension to provide permitting help, training, mentoring, and marketing support tailored to local needs. NOAA would maintain a protected aquaculture database of research and best practices. Governors could ask NOAA to enter agreements to let states take part in assessment and support for state waters that have open-ocean characteristics, without displacing state authority.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Ezell, Mike [R-MS-4]
MS • R
Cosponsors
Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19]
CA • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1]
ME • D
Sponsored 7/14/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 7/16/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov