MARA Act of 2025

This bill creates an Office of Aquaculture within the National Marine Fisheries Service and directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to set up a program, within 180 days, to assess commercial-scale fish and shellfish farming in federal ocean waters through permitted demonstration projects. Permits would last 10 years, could be renewed, and would require projects to raise only native or historically naturalized species, follow federal environmental laws, partner with certain colleges, and report data each year. The bill also creates grants for aquaculture marketing, workforce training, and college aquaculture programs at minority-serving and Tribal institutions, plus a grant program to help coastal states, Tribes, and Native Hawaiian organizations buy or improve working waterfronts. It also calls for a study by the National Academies and a report by the Government Accountability Office.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Ezell Republican sponsor
• 8 cosponsors