"Together, chefs, fishers, NGOs, and future aquaculture leaders are rallying support for the SEAfood Act and charting a responsible path forward for open ocean aquaculture in the U.S.," the CSA announced in a LinkedIn post announcing the trip to Washington.
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This week, the Coalition for Sustainable Aquaculture (CSA) heads to the U.S. capital to champion the SEAfood Act, advocating for a science-based legislative approach to develop robust environmental and social standards for U.S. open ocean aquaculture.
With up to 90% of seafood consumed in the U.S. being imported, and half of that farmed, the CSA aims to boost domestic seafood production through sustainable methods.
The current lack of a comprehensive federal regulatory framework for open ocean aquaculture hampers this goal, the Coalition argues.
The SEAfood Act proposes to fill this gap by ensuring sustainable, equitable, and profitable aquaculture practices, says the CSA.
“We are working to ensure safe and environmentally responsible access to valuable nutritious resources. The SEAfood Act can play an important role in the U.S.’s safe, sustainable seafood industry," said Dr. Chris Vogliano, CSA member and Co-founder of Food and Planet, in a CSA press release.
The CSA says it is advocating for the SEAfood Act for four key reasons.
Firstly, the Act would entail the Government Accountability Office producing a report detailing the permitting, monitoring, and regulatory options for governing open ocean aquaculture in the U.S.
Secondly, the proposed legislation directs the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to complete a study on the scientific basis for efficient and effective regulation of open ocean aquaculture.
Thirdly, it would also authorize NOAA to establish an aquaculture assessment program focused on research and transparency, and finally, it would see the creation of a NOAA-administered grant program for minority-serving educational institutions to establish aquaculture centers of excellence.
The CSA includes a diverse membership, from chefs and fishers to industry leaders and environmental advocates, with the common goal of ensuring access to sustainable, locally sourced seafood.
New members like the Charter Fisherman’s Association and sustainable seafood advocate Emily De Sousa highlight the coalition’s broad support, the CSA says.
“As fishermen, we value the ability to provide and access delicious seafood. Developing U.S. aquaculture offers Americans more protein-rich seafood but requires stringent regulations,” said Capt. Jim Green, President of the Charter Fisherman’s Association.
Peter Adame of Lusamerica, a seafood wholesaler, added: “We invest in wild, local West Coast seafood because of strong federal fisheries management. We want the same strong management for aquaculture.”