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. 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.