NOAA Aquaculture
Marine aquaculture builds seafood supply, supports commercial fisheries, restores habitat and at-risk species, and maintains economic activity in communities in every coastal state.
The NOAA Aquaculture Strategic Plan lays out a framework to support a thriving, resilient, and inclusive U.S. aquaculture industry as part of a resilient seafood sector. The Plan establishes goals to manage sustainably and efficiently, lead science for sustainability, educate and exchange information, and support economic viability and growth.Marine aquaculture (or farmed seafood) is vital for supporting our nation’s seafood production, year-round jobs, rebuilding protected species and habitats, and enhancing coastal resilience. Aquaculture—the breeding, rearing, and harvesting of animals and plants in all types of water environments—is one of the most resource-efficient ways to produce protein. It has helped improve nutrition and food security in many parts of the world. Globally, aquaculture supplies more than 50 percent of all seafood produced for human consumption—and that percentage will continue to rise.
At NOAA Fisheries, we support cutting-edge science and research as well as federal policy making and regulation to grow sustainable aquaculture in the United States while supporting commercial and recreational fisheries. We also support science, policies, and regulations that allow communities to reap the social, economic, and environmental benefits of aquaculture. We foster responsible aquaculture that provides safe, sustainable seafood; creates employment and business opportunities in coastal communities; and complements NOAA’s comprehensive strategy for maintaining healthy and productive marine populations, ecosystems, and vibrant coastal communities. For additional information on their many aquaculture activities, please go to the NOAA website, here.
