MARA Act of 2026

This bill creates an Office of Aquaculture within the National Marine Fisheries Service and directs NOAA to set up a program, within 180 days, to assess whether fish and shellfish farming in federal ocean waters is workable. NOAA would issue 10-year, renewable permits for commercial-scale offshore aquaculture demonstration projects that meet conditions such as raising only native species, and would have to publish applications for public comment. Permit holders would report production, environmental, and feed data each year. The bill also creates grants for workforce training and for curriculum at minority-serving and Tribal colleges (Aquaculture Centers of Excellence), authorizing $25 million per year for 2026–2030, and orders studies by the National Academies and the Government Accountability Office.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Ezell Republican sponsor
• 4 cosponsors