[Federal Register Volume 91, Number 145 (Thursday, July 30, 2026)]
[Notices]
[Pages 48086-48089]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2026-15435]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XF663]
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Waters
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: 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. 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. These geographic areas are
referred to as AOAs. 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. 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. NOAA will combine input received through
consultation and coordination with Federal and non-Federal
stakeholders, comments on this notice, and spatial analyses by NOAA's
National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS), to help identify
the next geographic area(s) to focus on for AOA identification. Please
respond to the questions in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as
appropriate.
DATES: Interested persons are invited to submit written comments on or
before September 13, 2026. Three webinar-based listening sessions are
scheduled. Comments on each topic area will be accepted at all
meetings:
1. August 6, 2026, 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Pacific (PDT)
2. August 13, 2026, 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. Hawaii (HST)
3. August 31, 2026, 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Eastern (EDT) (English and
Spanish)
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2026-2179, by any of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Visit https://www.regulations.gov and type NOAA-NMFS-2026-2179 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
Mail: Submit written information to Brian Fredieu, Office
of Aquaculture, NOAA Fisheries, Attn: Aquaculture
[[Page 48087]]
Opportunity Area, 1315 East West Hwy., Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Webinar: Comments on each topic area will be accepted at
all webinar meetings. Links and toll-free phone numbers for each
webinar can be found at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/aquaculture/aquaculture-opportunity-areas.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. All comments received are a part of the
public record and will generally be posted for public viewing on
https://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential business
information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted voluntarily
by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept anonymous
comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to remain
anonymous).
Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for any costs
that you may incur in responding to this RFI, or for the use of any
information contained in the response. The documents and information
submitted in response to this RFI become the property of the U.S.
Government and will not be returned. If you are unable to provide
electronic comments, please contact NOAA Fisheries at
nmfs.aquaculture.info@noaa.gov">nmfs.aquaculture.info@noaa.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Brian Fredieu, NOAA Fisheries, Office
of Aquaculture: 301-427-8578, nmfs.aquaculture.info@noaa.gov">nmfs.aquaculture.info@noaa.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On May 7, 2020, the President signed an E.O. on Promoting American
Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth (E.O. 13921). The E.O.
calls for the expansion of sustainable U.S. seafood production.
Building on this foundation, the President issued additional executive
orders in 2025 to further strengthen domestic seafood production and
aquaculture development, including E.O. 14276, 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. Together, these executive orders direct
NOAA to continue the identification of AOAs across U.S. waters and
streamline the processes that support sustainable commercial
aquaculture. NOAA also has directives to promote sustainable
aquaculture in the U.S., including through the National Aquaculture Act
of 1980 and the Department of Commerce (DOC) and NOAA Marine
Aquaculture Policies. NOAA has a variety of proven science-based tools
and strategies that can support these directives and help communities
thoughtfully consider how and where to sustainably develop aquaculture
that will complement wild-capture fisheries, working waterfronts, and
our nation's seafood processing and distribution infrastructure.
Section 7 of E.O. 13921 directs the Secretary of Commerce to
identify AOAs in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the
Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of Agriculture, the Secretary
of Homeland Security, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency, other appropriate Federal officials, and appropriate Regional
Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with appropriate
state, jurisdiction and tribal governments. This includes:
1. Within 1 year of the E.O., identify at least two geographic
areas containing locations suitable for commercial aquaculture;
2. Within 2 years of identifying each area, complete a National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Programmatic Environmental Impact
Statement (PEIS) for each area to assess the impact of siting
aquaculture facilities there;
3. For each of the following 4 years, identify two additional
geographic areas containing locations suitable for commercial
aquaculture and complete a PEIS for each within 2 years.
Identifying AOAs is an opportunity to use the best available
science to support sustainable aquaculture management, and support the
``triple bottom line'' of environmental, economic, and social
sustainability. The areas identified as AOAs are defined geographic
areas that NOAA has evaluated through both spatial analysis and a
programmatic NEPA process that may be environmentally, economically,
and socially suitable to support multiple commercial aquaculture
operations.
Identifying AOAs is a planning process. The areas identified as
AOAs may be suitable to support aquaculture farms of varying types.
Locations for individual operations within an AOA would be considered
and evaluated during the permitting process and associated
environmental reviews and consultations. Aquaculture operations
proposed within an AOA would be subject to the same Federal and state/
jurisdiction permitting and authorization requirements as those located
elsewhere and would need to comply with all applicable Federal and
state laws and regulations.
NOAA has engaged in the science and public based AOA identification
process since 2020. Following issuance of E.O. 13921, NOAA utilized a
public comment period to solicit public feedback on identifying
prospective regions of focus, selecting the Gulf of America and
Southern California as the first regions (85 FR 67519, October 23,
2020). On September 19, 2025, NOAA identified 13 AOAs totaling more
than 21,000 acres in U.S. Federal waters of the Gulf of America and off
Southern California, after the National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science (NCCOS) published AOAs for these regions in November 2021. On
February 19, 2026, the NCCOS published an Atlas for Alaska, identifying
77 options (50 to 2,000 acres) for potential AOA identification across
10 study areas in Gulf of Alaska state waters.
AOA Identification Process
NOAA is requesting public input on areas that should be considered
nationally for future AOA identification and will use the information
received from this RFI to help determine where to focus continued
efforts.
To identify AOAs, NOAA will use a combination of spatial mapping
approaches, scientific review, public input, and other relevant
information. NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science will use
public input and the best available data to account for key
environmental, economic, social, and cultural considerations to
identify areas that may support sustainable aquaculture development.
NOAA will then combine those results with input from other Federal and
state/jurisdictional agencies, Regional Fishery Management Councils,
Marine Fisheries Commissions, jurisdictional tribal governments and
organizations, and the general public to identify areas that will be
considered in more depth through the NEPA process.
Importantly, AOA identification is a planning process and does not,
by itself, result in areas permitted for aquaculture. The AOA process
is not a required prerequisite to understanding the impacts of
aquaculture in a region. The absence of an AOA does not equate with a
lack of scientific understanding of aquaculture's impacts in the
region. For example, some forms of aquaculture have been practiced in
coastal waters for decades, generating a substantial body of peer-
reviewed scientific literature, state-level environmental reviews, and
site-specific NEPA analyses. Federal agencies including NOAA, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers, and the
[[Page 48088]]
Environmental Protection Agency have conducted and reviewed numerous
environmental assessments and environmental impact statements for
aquaculture projects in various regions. The AOA process is a planning
process and the absence of an AOA in a given region does not preclude
aquaculture development there, nor does it indicate that the
environmental impacts of aquaculture in that region are unknown or
unexamined. The AOA process is designed to proactively identify
suitable areas and improve efficiencies for future permitting.
All aquaculture operations are required to comply with applicable
Federal and state laws, regulations and authorizations. Further,
aquaculture operations proposed within an AOA would have the same
Federal and State permitting and authorization requirements as anywhere
else. Site-specific environmental surveys may be required for the
permitting process. Additional NEPA analysis beyond the PEIS may be
necessary as a part of permitting and authorization processes for
individual operations. NOAA will work with the Federal agencies
responsible for permitting aquaculture (e.g., the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers and the Environmental Protection Agency) throughout the AOA
identification process to identify information NOAA can include in the
PEIS to help inform future permitting needs.
Additional information on AOAs, including frequently asked
questions, is available on NOAA's website at: https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/insight/aquaculture-opportunity-areas.
Request for Information
NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in
U.S. waters, including siting parameters that can be used to select
potential areas for further analysis. When providing input, please
specify:
The question number(s) you are responding to;
The U.S. region(s) to which your comments apply; and
Whether your comments apply to specific type(s) of
aquaculture or gear/structure (e.g., finfish, shellfish, macroalgae/
seaweed, or a combination of species).
Responses to this request are voluntary. Respondents need not reply
to all questions.
Input Requested To Inform the Identification of Future AOAs, Nationally
Question 1
What regions of the country should next be considered for future
AOAs?
a. New England (Maine through Connecticut).
b. Mid-Atlantic (New York through Virginia).
c. South Atlantic (North Carolina through east coast Florida).
d. U.S. Caribbean (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands).
e. Pacific Islands (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, Guam, Hawaii, and U.S. Pacific Remote Island Areas).
Question 2
Are there specific locations within those regions identified in
response to Question 1 that should be considered for future AOAs?
Please be as specific as possible and include latitude and longitude or
defining landmarks.
Question 3
NOAA is soliciting information on technical siting requirements for
aquaculture operations to inform spatial analysis for future AOAs. For
the region(s) identified in response to Question 1, please provide:
a. Minimum and maximum depth needed to operate aquaculture farms.
b. Minimum and maximum current conditions that could impact farm
operation.
c. Minimum and maximum wave climate that could impact farm
operation.
d. Proximity to shore, critical infrastructure and/or coastal
communities.
Question 4
Are there specific locations within U.S. waters in your region that
should be considered for AOAs? Are there specific locations that should
be avoided? Please be as specific as possible and include latitude and
longitude or defining landmarks. Please indicate why such areas should
be considered or avoided, for example:
a. Favorable biological parameters.
b. Water quality (e.g., nutrients or other parameters that might
make an area favorable or disfavored).
c. Proximity to infrastructure (e.g., ports, processing plants,
hatcheries, or nurseries that could supply seed or fingerlings for
grow-out)
d. Relationships to other planned or ongoing activities.
e. Proximity to traditionally and culturally important locations or
sacred sites.
f. Presence in or use of an area by protected species (e.g., large
whales, sea turtles, dolphins, sea otters, sea lions, etc.).
Question 5
Within those regions identified in response to Question 1, what
resource use conflicts should be considered as NOAA identifies future
AOAs? Please describe specific considerations that might make an area
unfavorable, including ongoing or planned activities or ocean uses.
Question 6
Are there size limitations NOAA should consider for AOAs (e.g.,
maximum or minimum size)? How many farms should fit within an AOA?
Should the size of AOAs be aligned with regional or state/
jurisdictional economic development goals for aquaculture?
Question 7
Are there aquaculture species or gear considerations that may
result in optimized growth? This might include (but is not limited to):
species or aquaculture gear depth thresholds, water current thresholds,
temperature thresholds, salinity thresholds, etc. Are there any species
or gear not currently being used that you would like to see considered
in the future? Please be as specific as possible.
Question 8
Is there ongoing environmental, economic, or social science
research that would assist in the identification and implementation of
future AOAs? If so, please describe in as much detail as is available.
Question 9
Is there information that may not be readily available or
accessible online that would be useful for AOA planning processes in
your region? This includes spatial data or Geographic Information
System (GIS) layers representing subsistence, environmental, and
socioeconomic considerations, or a point of contact for these data, for
the following categories:
a. Biophysical/oceanographic (ice cover where applicable,
temperature, ocean acidification indices, wave climate, currents,
bathymetry).
b. Natural resources (minerals, energy resources, fishes and other
aquatic organisms, protected species and habitats, marine mammals, kelp
beds, eelgrass beds, coral reefs, biodiversity).
c. Social, historical, and cultural resources (cultural and
subsistence
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harvest, community subsistence activities, culturally important sites).
d. Government boundaries.
e. Industry (fishing, energy production, transportation,
communication cables).
f. Military.
g. Navigation.
h. Recreational resources (fishing, hunting, etc.).
Question 10
Is there any additional information NOAA should consider?
Authority: E.O. 13921 et seq.
Dated: July 28, 2026.
Danielle Blacklock,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries Service.
[FR Doc. 2026-15435 Filed 7-29-26; 8:45 am]
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