American Aquaculture Association writes to USDA, calls for rebalancing capture fisheries and aquaculture in "America First" seafood strategy

The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) sent a letter on November 6 to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) fisheries office, requesting that the federal government adjust the "America First Seafood Strategy" to more fully address the difficulties facing the aquaculture industry and its development needs.

NAA Executive Director Caitlyn Czajkowski said the strategy gives too much priority to commercial fishing and treats aquaculture as a supplementary sector. In her view, this orientation fails to properly recognize the contributions and potential of the aquaculture industry in expanding domestic U.S. seafood supply and driving rural economies.

NAA President Sebastian Belle stressed that aquaculture is an independent mode of production with its own characteristics and challenges. He said the strategy's assessment of the sector is relatively brief and focuses mainly on permitting issues; in reality, permitting is only one of many obstacles producers face, and the obstacles differ by production method and by farmed species.

NAA is concerned that focusing on wild capture and making little mention of aquaculture could widen the gap between these two types of producers. The association recommends a change in approach, promoting the joint development of capture fisheries and aquaculture rather than treating them as opposing sectors.

To achieve this, NAA proposes organizing a dialogue between aquaculture industry representatives and the fisheries office so that regulators can learn directly about the difficulties businesses face. The association also calls on USDA to set specific growth targets for the sector, strengthen cooperation with domestic producers, and coordinate with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to bring capture fisheries and aquaculture under a unified development direction.

Previously, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the "America First Seafood Strategy" on October 23, 2026, with the goal of strengthening domestic seafood capture, aquaculture and processing capacity and reducing reliance on foreign supplies. The strategy focuses on five priority areas: expanding domestic seafood capture and consumption; modernizing infrastructure; controlling imports and promoting fair trade; reforming regulation and developing marine aquaculture; and encouraging seafood consumption for public health purposes.

Under the strategy, the United States plans to review catch limits based on scientific evidence, restore access to certain fisheries, and cut unnecessary regulatory requirements. The government will also establish a voluntary "U.S.-Caught Seafood" label, launch an "Eat American Seafood" campaign to encourage consumption of domestic products, and give priority to American seafood in government procurement.

On infrastructure, the strategy proposes simplifying permitting procedures and encouraging investment in fishing ports, cold storage, processing facilities, shipbuilding and the fishing fleet. The United States will also strengthen oversight of imports, inspect high-risk shipments, and crack down on trade fraud, mislabeling and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

On aquaculture, the strategy proposes reviewing and simplifying regulations, improving standards and permitting guidance, and creating conditions for expanding marine farming in federally managed waters. The document identifies increasing farmed output to supplement wild-capture supply as an important way to reduce reliance on imported seafood; however, specific measures will be determined in the future.

NOAA plays an important role in implementing the strategy, providing scientific basis and fisheries management expertise. The agency said the strategy mainly uses existing legal authorities and programs, with a focus on removing obstacles, strengthening coordination among federal agencies, and enhancing the competitiveness of the U.S. seafood industry.

NAA said supporting commercial fishing and developing aquaculture are not two competing goals. Both should be recognized, supported fairly, and matched with policies suited to their respective characteristics, which would help consolidate supply and enhance the competitiveness of the U.S. seafood industry.