Request for Information; Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Waters

NOAA is issuing this request for information (RFI) to collect information to help identify the next geographic region(s) of focus for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA) identification. NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in U.S. waters, including geographic areas of focus. On May 7, 2020, the White House issued an Executive Order (E.O.) on Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth, which requires the Secretary of Commerce to identify geographic areas containing locations suitable for commercial aquaculture, and complete a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for each area to assess the impact of siting aquaculture facilities there. Building on this foundation, the President issued additional executive orders in 2025 to further strengthen domestic seafood production and aquaculture development, including an E.O. titled "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness", which reaffirms and expands the Federal commitment to growing the U.S. aquaculture industry and reducing the nation's seafood trade deficit. NOAA requests that interested parties provide relevant information on the identification of areas within U.S. waters for future AOAs. The public input provided in response to this RFI will inform NOAA as it works with other Federal agencies, Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with state, jurisdictional and tribal governments to identify AOAs nationally.