Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act or the AQUAA Act This bill establishes national standards for sustainable offshore aquaculture. It also establishes a national plan to identify and designate aquaculture opportunity areas. The Department of Commerce must develop a plan and time line to systematically (1) assess the exclusive economic zone, (2) prepare an inventory of sites suitable for aquaculture opportunity areas, and (3) designate aquaculture opportunity areas. Commerce must also establish a research and development grant program to promote research and extension activities, including to (1) create innovative design and engineering solutions to common obstacles within the aquaculture industry; (2) evaluate the role of genetics in relation to brood stock production, disease management, and interactions between cultured species and wild stocks; and (3) improve techniques for monitoring, assessing, and addressing environmental impacts of aquaculture and develop and evaluate methodologies to prevent, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts. The bill directs Commerce to create an Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to coordinate regulatory, scientific, outreach, and international issues related to aquaculture. The bill also establishes a unified permitting and review process for aquaculture operations.
Referred to the Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife.
Introduced in Senate
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
Public Lands and Natural Resources
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAgricultural educationAgricultural marketing and promotionAgricultural researchAlaska Natives and HawaiiansAnimal and plant healthAquacultureAssault and harassment offensesBusiness investment and capitalBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of CommerceEconomic performance and conditionsEducation programs fundingEmergency planning and evacuationEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal-Indian relationsFishesFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingFraud offenses and financial crimesGeneticsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIndian lands and resources rightsIntergovernmental relationsJudicial review and appealsLabor standardsLaw enforcement officersLicensing and registrationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborNatural disastersPublic participation and lobbyingResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentSeafoodState and local government operationsVeterinary medicine and animal diseasesWater qualityWatersheds
AQUAA Act
USA116th CongressS-4723| Senate
| Updated: 9/24/2020
Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture Act or the AQUAA Act This bill establishes national standards for sustainable offshore aquaculture. It also establishes a national plan to identify and designate aquaculture opportunity areas. The Department of Commerce must develop a plan and time line to systematically (1) assess the exclusive economic zone, (2) prepare an inventory of sites suitable for aquaculture opportunity areas, and (3) designate aquaculture opportunity areas. Commerce must also establish a research and development grant program to promote research and extension activities, including to (1) create innovative design and engineering solutions to common obstacles within the aquaculture industry; (2) evaluate the role of genetics in relation to brood stock production, disease management, and interactions between cultured species and wild stocks; and (3) improve techniques for monitoring, assessing, and addressing environmental impacts of aquaculture and develop and evaluate methodologies to prevent, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse environmental impacts. The bill directs Commerce to create an Office of Aquaculture within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to coordinate regulatory, scientific, outreach, and international issues related to aquaculture. The bill also establishes a unified permitting and review process for aquaculture operations.
Administrative law and regulatory proceduresAdvisory bodiesAgricultural educationAgricultural marketing and promotionAgricultural researchAlaska Natives and HawaiiansAnimal and plant healthAquacultureAssault and harassment offensesBusiness investment and capitalBusiness recordsCivil actions and liabilityCongressional oversightCriminal investigation, prosecution, interrogationDepartment of CommerceEconomic performance and conditionsEducation programs fundingEmergency planning and evacuationEnvironmental assessment, monitoring, researchExecutive agency funding and structureFederal-Indian relationsFishesFood industry and servicesFood supply, safety, and labelingFraud offenses and financial crimesGeneticsGovernment information and archivesGovernment studies and investigationsIndian lands and resources rightsIntergovernmental relationsJudicial review and appealsLabor standardsLaw enforcement officersLicensing and registrationsMarine and coastal resources, fisheriesMigrant, seasonal, agricultural laborNatural disastersPublic participation and lobbyingResearch administration and fundingResearch and developmentSeafoodState and local government operationsVeterinary medicine and animal diseasesWater qualityWatersheds