President Donald Trump in his first term called marine aquaculture a potential boon to America’s seafood economy, saying a thriving industry could help the United States regain prominence in a sector dominated by other countries.
But leaders within the nascent industry — which typically involves farming of fish or shellfish in controlled environments — say it is not clear at the beginning of Trump’s second term if the nation’s primary fisheries agency will be in a position to help boost businesses.
They point to staffing cuts at NOAA Fisheries, along with policies that have made scientists and policy experts inaccessible. In recent weeks, NOAA has canceled appearances at major industry events, suspended a key government grant to advance aquaculture research in Maine and shelved an advisory panel that included industry representatives.
“We’re writing letters right and left about the devastating impact of these cuts to all the programs that support aquaculture,” Bob Rheault, executive director of the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association, said in a telephone interview. The group represents nearly 90 shellfish growers and associated businesses on the Atlantic Coast.
