Since 1989, the National Aquaculture Association (NAA) has served as the unified voice of America’s aquaculture community, championing policies, building strategic partnerships, and promoting public understanding of U.S. farmed aquatic products. In 2025, that commitment is stronger than ever.

This year brings both new opportunities and familiar challenges. With federal agencies reopening key regulatory processes, Congress considering legislation that directly affects aquaculture, and public awareness around domestic seafood production on the rise, NAA is working vigorously to ensure farmers’ voices are strongly heard.

What follows is an overview of the NAA’s 2025 federal advocacy work, shaped by input from our Legislative and Government Relations Committee, our state and regional associations, our board of directors, and the many farmers whose needs guide our mission.

Leading on legislative priorities

Last May, NAA staff and board members met with members of Congress and bipartisan staff from the Senate Agriculture Committee to press for priorities in the 2025 Farm Bill. Staff also visited the offices of every representative and senator serving on both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees, increasing awareness and understanding of current policy issues critical to the well-being of the aquaculture sector.

Key NAA 2025 Farm Bill priorities include:

Increase funding for applied aquaculture research – In 2024, NAA released an independent review of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Regional Aquaculture Center (RAC) program. Although it has remained stagnant at US$5 million annually since 2013, the analysis found the program highly impactful, supporting more than 1,200 participants across 170 institutions and funding projects in 55 states, territories, and countries. The NAA is advocating for an increase to US$20 million annually, with adjustments for inflation, to restore RAC’s ability to support critical research, extension, and development.

Remove the adjusted gross income limitation – Thanks to sustained advocacy by NAA staff, progress on adjusting the AGI limitation advanced through H.R. 1, the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The bill, which is now law, includes a key provision waiving the AGI cap for operations where at least 70 percent of income is derived from farming. This is an important win for aquaculture producers who were previously excluded from critical federal programs simply because of their business structure.

Modernize the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 – NAA is urging Congress to update the National Aquaculture Act to include establishing an Aquaculture Center of Excellence, expanding AFRI eligibility to include shellfish, improving Whole Farm and Micro Farm insurance, supporting research on new species, and restoring USDA’s Food Supply Chain Guaranteed Loan Program in order to better reflect today’s sustainable aquatic farming industry.

Beyond the 2025 Farm Bill

The MARA Act – The NAA Marine Committee is reviewing the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act to ensure that the legislation protects the interests of domestic marine farmers, while establishing a clear and practical legal framework for responsible aquaculture development in federal waters. As Congress evaluates this measure, NAA is collaborating with members and partners to assess potential impacts, strengthen provisions that support U.S. producers, and advocate for policy that enables sustainable, economically viable offshore aquaculture.

The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 – NAA strongly backs the Cormorant Relief Act, which addresses severe losses caused by unchecked populations of double-crested cormorants, especially in the catfish, tilapia, and baitfish sectors. Predation reduces stock, disrupts harvest schedules, increases labor needs, and raises production costs. Existing regulations do not offer timely or region-specific tools for addressing outbreaks. Passage of the act would restore essential flexibility to manage cormorant impacts on farms across the U.S.

The Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act of 2025 – NAA is championing the Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act to allow for the distinction of captive-bred from wild sturgeon populations listed in the Endangered Species Act. This clarification supports a science-focused approach to conserving wild stocks while ensuring long-term viability of U.S. sturgeon farms engaged in breeding, growout, and research.

The No IRIS Act – NAA supports the “No IRIS Act,” which would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using its IRIS assessment for formaldehyde in its rulemaking, unless specifically authorized by Congress. The IRIS assessment has been widely criticized as scientifically flawed, inconsistent with global standards, and potentially harmful to aquaculture operations that depend on formaldehyde for disease control, egg protection, and parasite management.

The Safe American Food Exports (SAFE) Act – The SAFE Act strengthens protections for aquaculture and livestock exports during disease outbreaks by allowing USDA to proactively negotiate regionalization agreements with trade partners and recognize disease-free regions within the U.S., preventing nationwide export bans when an outbreak is localized. With aquaculture explicitly included, this legislation ensures stable trade for fish and shellfish producers and minimizes regulatory confusion during animal disease outbreaks.

Anti-octopus farming bills – Anti-octopus farming bills have emerged in 10 states and at the federal level, though no commercial octopus farms exist anywhere in the world. Washington and California enacted bans in 2024, while Oregon rejected a similar bill in 2025. Currently, legislation to prohibit octopus farming is being considered in Hawaii, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina, and the Octopus Protection Act has been introduced again in Congress. NAA is actively opposing this legislation, which targets a nonexistent industry. It sets a concerning precedent for banning species-specific farming, and distorts policymakers’ understanding of aquaculture practices in the U.S. and abroad.

Fighting for fair, common-sense regulatory improvements

In response to an Office of Management and Budget request for proposals to revise or rescind regulations that hinder American businesses, the NAA submitted targeted recommendations addressing rules that are outdated, duplicative, or inconsistent with congressional intent.

Lacey Act misapplication – NAA urged the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to cease listing native species as “Injurious Wildlife” under the Lacey Act, noting that Congress never authorized such listings or pathogen-based justifications for species already established in the U.S.

Costly inspection fees – NAA also highlighted burdensome overtime, port, and inspection fees imposed by USFWS on international shipments of aquatic products. These fees are incompatible with 24/7 global trade and place unnecessary financial strain on exporters and importers.

Outdated salmonid import regulations – Decades-old salmonid import inspection requirements are duplicative, outdated, and misaligned with modern science. NAA stressed that USDA, not USFWS, is the nation’s lead authority on aquatic animal health, making these legacy rules unnecessary.

Unworkable transport regulations – NAA urged revisions to Department of Transportation rules governing hours of service and electronic logging devices for livestock haulers – regulations that do not account for the unique needs of transporting live aquatic animals safely and humanely.

In summary, as we reflect on a year marked by meaningful progress, NAA remains deeply committed to advancing the policy priorities essential to the success of U.S. aquaculture. From championing core Farm Bill goals and pushing forward the Cormorant Relief and Sturgeon Conservation Acts, to supporting common-sense legislation and regulatory modernization, NAA continues to lead with clarity and purpose.

Maria Smithson is the director of Membership and Marketing at the National Aquaculture Association. (maria@nationalaquaculture.org)

Aquaculture North America

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