NOAA published today the Atlas for Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) offsite link, identifying 77 locations that may be suitable for sustainable shellfish and seaweed aquaculture operations in the Gulf of Alaska. This effort is part of NOAA’s commitment to prioritize American seafood competitiveness while strengthening the nation’s seafood industry, reducing reliance on foreign imports and creating high-quality American jobs.
Aquaculture Opportunity Areas fulfill President Trump’s 2020 Executive Order “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth” and support the 2025 Executive Order “Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness.” Both orders champion a robust, America-first seafood industry that prioritizes U.S. workers and consumers. NOAA has previously identified AOAs in federal waters in the Gulf of America and Southern California. The Alaska Atlas marks the first time the AOA process has been applied to state waters.
“Americans should have access to safe, healthy, locally produced seafood,” said Neil Jacobs, Ph.D., NOAA administrator. “This atlas is a powerful source of coastal data, maps and analysis that will inform aquaculture development in the state of Alaska and reduce America’s reliance on seafood imports.”
Each year, Americans eat roughly $15 billion worth of seafood imported from foreign countries, where labor and environmental conditions often fall short of America’s rigorous standards. By expanding domestic aquaculture to complement wild-harvest fisheries, NOAA is leading an approach that creates jobs, supports coastal communities and ensures high-quality, homegrown seafood for American families.
“Alaska has more coastline than the rest of the nation combined, and we should be using that resource to its full potential,” said Governor Mike Dunleavy. “This atlas helps identify where aquaculture makes sense in our state waters. It will support creating new job opportunities, strengthen food security for Alaskans, and add to Alaska’s already tremendous seafood industry.”
The areas identified in the atlas were reviewed by hundreds of local, state and federal organizations and through an extensive peer-review process. NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science developed the atlas in partnership with NOAA Fisheries and the state of Alaska. The atlas seeks to minimize conflict with other ocean uses and the surrounding ecosystem, specifically prioritizing the protection of commercial, recreational and subsistence wild-harvest fisheries, while also making use of existing industry infrastructure, such as docks, processing facilities and transportation routes to create new sustainable economic opportunities.
Identifying these areas — which range in size from 50 to 2,000 acres — is an opportunity to use the best available scientific guidance on sustainable aquaculture management while supporting environmental and economic sustainability. Once future sites are identified in Alaska, interested shellfish and seaweed growers will use the state and federal permitting process to authorize construction and operation.
NOAA will continue to work with Regional Fishery Management Councils, Marine Fisheries Commissions, states, Tribal Councils, and other stakeholders to identify areas to be considered in further depth for sustainable aquaculture. Public input is vital to shaping open and transparent aquaculture development processes.
NOAA is working to identify AOAs and support the aquaculture industry through cutting-edge science and research, federal policy making and regulation to grow sustainable aquaculture in the United States.
