Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture Act
This bill, titled the Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture Act, would amend the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 to extend and strengthen federal aquaculture programs. Key changes include creating an Aquaculture Advisory Committee to advise federal agencies, requiring periodic (every 3 years) reviews and continuing assessments of U.S. aquaculture, and adding two new inventories: (1) a catalog of capital constraints affecting industry development and (2) a catalog of federal or state regulatory barriers to starting and operating commercial aquaculture ventures. The bill also requires an annual congressional report on the status and activities of U.S. aquaculture, including budget-related information. In addition, it makes a few administrative updates (including a corrected spelling and extending the target year for certain provisions to 2029). Potential impact: The act would formalize ongoing oversight and data collection for the aquaculture sector, aim to identify financial and regulatory obstacles, and improve policy alignment across departments. It could increase transparency around federal investments in aquaculture and provide a structured mechanism for industry input through the new advisory committee.
Key Points
- 1Aquaculture Advisory Committee
- 2- Establishes a 14-member, non-federal advisory group to guide policy, provide technical assistance, and help implement the act.
- 3- Members appointed within 180 days of enactment; terms vary (initial terms include 1, 2, or 3 years, after which terms are 3 years).
- 4- Meets at least 3 times per year; first meeting within 180 days of appointments.
- 5- Duties include advising on policies, reviewing research and extension activities, identifying barriers, and assisting the Secretary as appropriate.
- 6- Members serve without compensation but may receive travel expenses.
- 7Periodic reviews and assessments every 3 years
- 8- Requires not less than a 3-year interval for periodic reviews and a continuing assessment of aquaculture in the United States.
- 9- Adds two new required inventories to the analysis:
- 10- A catalog of new and existing capital constraints affecting aquaculture development (as described in the capital requirements plan under section 8(b)).
- 11- A catalog of new and existing federal or state regulatory barriers to starting and operating commercial aquaculture ventures (as described in the regulatory constraints plan under section 9(b)).
- 12Annual reporting to Congress
- 13- Secretary, with input from the coordinating group and in consultation with the Secretaries of Commerce and the Interior, must prepare and submit an annual report on the status of U.S. aquaculture.
- 14- Report components include actions taken, revisions to plans, results of the continuing assessment, agency roles, federal expenditures related to aquaculture (purchases, promotion/outreach, grants, and research), and summaries of advisory and coordinating group activities.
- 15Administrative amendments and scope
- 16- Corrects spelling in section references (acquaculture to aquaculture).
- 17- Extends certain statutory dates, with Section 10 or related provisions updated to reference the year 2029 (instead of 2023).
- 18- Short title designated as the “Advancing Quality U.S. Aquaculture Act.”