The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is asking for feedback on identifying areas that may be suitable for commercial aquaculture operations in U.S. waters.
The agency is requesting relevant information on where it should consider future aquaculture opportunity areas, or AOA, which are defined geographic areas that have been evaluated for their potential suitability for commercial aquaculture, according to NOAA officials.
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“The AOA identification process takes into account the potential environmental, economic, and social impacts of identifying AOAs and siting aquaculture in those locations drawing from extensive scientific review and analysis,” according to a NOAA release. “Public input is critical to this process.”
The public may submit comments through Sept. 14 in the Federal Register via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal and type NOAA-NMFS-2026-2179 in the search box.
NOAA has also scheduled public listening sessions, the next of which is set to take place in English-only throughout the day beginning at 9 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.
Sessions in English and Spanish will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 31. The public may find specific times by registering for one of the sessions.
NOAA is asking the public for specific information, including regions in the U.S. where NOAA should consider analyzing for potential AOAs, types of aquaculture those areas may or may not support, water depths and distances from shore, locations where aquaculture gear may overlap with areas used by commercial fishers and protected species, and areas that may be important for subsistence harvest or other cultural resources, and for outdoor recreation or conserving natural resources.
Supporter Spotlight
NOAA initially sought input on regions to begin identifying AOAs in 2020. Last year, the agency identified 13 AOAs in the Gulf of Mexico and off Southern California totaling more than 21,000 acres in federal waters.
NOAA reports that an estimated $12 billion in farmed seafood was imported into the country in 2025.
“Aquaculture creates jobs, uplifts coastal economies, and complements wild-capture fisheries,” agency officials stated. “It provides healthy and sustainable seafood to American families—bolstering domestic food security.”
NOAA is also working to identify AOAs in Alaska state waters.
