MARA Act of 2026

This bill would create an Office of Aquaculture within the National Marine Fisheries Service, with at least one aquaculture coordinator in each regional fisheries office. It would require NOAA to set up, within 180 days, a program to assess fish and shellfish farming in federal ocean waters, and to issue 10-year permits for commercial-scale demonstration farms that grow only native or historically naturalized species. Permit applications would go through public comment, and an application would be treated as approved if NOAA does not act within 90 days after comment ends and no objections were received. The bill would also set up industry support programs and a database, and require studies by the National Academies and the Government Accountability Office.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Mike Ezell Republican sponsor
• 7 cosponsors