Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth
Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, directs multiple federal agencies to aggressively promote and expand the U.S. seafood industry—focusing on domestic fishing and offshore aquaculture—while improving regulatory transparency and coordinating actions across agencies. The order aims to reduce unnecessary rules, strengthen enforcement against illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, accelerate environmental reviews and permitting for aquaculture (especially in federal waters), and improve the efficiency and predictability of permitting processes. It also creates a formal interagency group to improve international seafood trade access and sets out plans to identify aquaculture siting areas and update the national aquaculture framework. Overall, the order envisions a modernized, faster, and more export-oriented U.S. seafood sector, with attention to food security, environmental stewardship, and national economic growth. Key features include: designating NOAA as lead for offshore aquaculture permitting outside state waters; applying “One Federal Decision” approaches to environmental reviews; creating nationwide permits for finfish, seaweed, and multi-species aquaculture; establishing Aquaculture Opportunity Areas and programmatic environmental reviews; updating and expanding the National Aquaculture Development Plan and aquatic animal health strategy; forming an interagency Seafood Trade Task Force to boost foreign-market access; and increasing transparency and public accountability in regulatory processes.
Key Points
- 1Removing Barriers to American Fishing and Aquaculture: NOAA-led actions to compile prioritized, time-bound reforms to reduce regulatory burdens on domestic fishing and sustainable production, with a focus on faster, clearer permitting and alignment with key laws (Magnuson-Stevens Act, ESA, MMPA).
- 2Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing: Advance international cooperation and enforcement by implementing Port State Measures and strengthening global maritime domain awareness, training, and collaboration to combat IUU fishing.
- 3Accelerating Aquaculture Permitting and Access: Establish a “One Federal Decision” framework for aquaculture projects with a lead agency (NOAA for offshore projects), and develop nationwide USACE permits for finfish, seaweed, and multi-species aquaculture activities; set multi-year permitting timetables and ensure coordinated decisions.
- 4Aquaculture Opportunity Areas and Planning: Identify at least two initial areas for commercial aquaculture within a year, then two more areas annually for the next four years, with programmatic Environmental Impact Statements to assess siting impacts; consider conflicts with military, navigation, habitats, and endangered species.
- 5Regulatory Transparency and National Plans: Create a single NOAA guidance document on aquaculture permitting requirements and available federal grants, update the National Aquaculture Development Plan (and aquatic health plan), and promote a clearer, more predictable regulatory environment for siting and operating aquaculture facilities.
- 6International Seafood Trade Strategy: Form an Interagency Seafood Trade Task Force to develop a comprehensive interagency strategy to expand foreign market access, resolve technical barriers, and promote fair seafood trade; USTR to report back with a strategy to the White House.