Bill · S. 2586· Senate(119-S-2586)
MARA Act of 2025
- Introduced
- 7/31/2025
- Last activity
- 7/31/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- Sponsored by
- Roger Wicker
- Cosponsors
- - 1 - 2
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The MARA Act of 2025 directs the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to establish an assessment program for commercial-scale offshore aquaculture through demonstration projects. It creates an Office of Aquaculture to coordinate research, regulatory, and outreach efforts. The bill establishes Aquaculture Centers of Excellence to support workforce development and the domestic sustainable aquaculture industry. Additionally, it includes a grant program to preserve working waterfronts for various seafood-related industries. The Act also mandates scientific studies and reports to evaluate the environmental and regulatory viability of offshore aquaculture. Ultimately, these efforts aim to expand the domestic seafood supply and reduce the United States seafood trade deficit.
Yes· 3 of 13
Does this put more money into scientific research?+6
The act mandates scientific studies by the Ocean Studies Board and establishes an aquaculture research program through NOAA.
Would business owners be better off under this?+5
The bill provides marketing grants, technical assistance, and enhanced access to capital markets for aquaculture entrepreneurs.
Would students be better off under this?+5
Students benefit from the establishment of Aquaculture Centers of Excellence and enhanced higher education curricula.
The opposite
Does this better protect air, water and wildlife?-3
The bill introduces risks such as species escape, wildlife entanglement, and potential pollution from aquaculture facilities into the marine environment.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Job Creation and Support: The bill aims to create new jobs and support existing jobs and businesses within the seafood industry, including traditional participants in the fishing industry (Section 2).
- Workforce Education: Through Aquaculture Centers of Excellence, the bill supports the education and training of individuals with the skills needed to operate offshore aquaculture facilities (Section 302(b)(1)).
- Industry Growth and Marketing: A grant program will be established to support the sale and public perception of cultured species both domestically and internationally (Section 301(b)).
- Economic Support for Communities: The Working Waterfronts Preservation Grant Program supports the commercial fishing, aquaculture, for-hire recreational fishing, and boatbuilding industries (Section 303(a)).
- Priority for Impacted Workers: Permit consideration may be given to those who can demonstrate that projects benefit individuals in the agricultural, wild-caught fishery, or aquaculture industries who were negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic or major disasters (Section 202(f)(1)).
- Increased Seafood Supply: The act seeks to reduce the United States seafood trade deficit by expanding the domestic supply of seafood (Section s 2).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Environmental and Wildlife Risks: There are potential risks regarding the escape of species, wildlife entanglement, and adverse impacts on the marine environment, including impacts to habitat and water chemistry (Section 201(b)(1)).
- Navigation and Safety Concerns: Offshore aquaculture facilities could create adverse impacts on navigation and safety for existing ocean users (Section 201(b)(1)(D)).
- Potential for Unsafe Operations: The Administrator has the authority to terminate permits if operations are determined to be unsafe or result in unacceptable negative impacts to the marine environment or nearby communities (Section 202(k)(1)(D)).
- Risk of Disease and Pollution: The bill identifies potential adverse effects such as the spread of disease from cultured species to wild species and the use of antibiotics and other pharmaceuticals (Section 401(b)(1)(C)).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Business Owners+5Good For Students+5Good For Native Americans+4Good For Rural Residents+4Good For Union Workers+3Good For Low Income Households+2
- Education And Technology
- Increases Scientific Research Funding+6Improves College Affordability+5
- Economy And Finance
- Increases Job Creation+5Improves Small Business Support+4
- Social Issues And Justice
- Improves Racial Equity+3
- Governance And Ideology
- Improves Government Transparency+2
- Environment Energy And Infrastructure
- Improves Rural Development+3Improves Environmental Protections-3
- 1/14/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 9/30/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/31/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- Introduced in Senate
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Jerry MoranRepublican · Kansas
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii