By admin • The MARA Act would enable commercial-scale demonstration projects of all types— finfish, seaweed, and shellfish—in federal waters (3 to 200 nautical miles offshore).
• Supporters say it’s needed as a first step toward cutting red tape and reducing U.S. reliance on imported seafood. They also point out the need to feed a growing population, and that the open ocean is a more stable environment for raising seafood than are coastal waters.
• Opponents fear that offshore farming could repeat the mistakes of large-scale coastal fisheries and argue that other acts being considered by Congress could encourage local fish processing and distribution, cutting the need for imports.
• So far, there’s little research on the ecological impacts of submersible pens in deep ocean water. The act is intended to promote science-backed pilot projects with stringent oversight.