assist in establishing or enhancing an aquaculture 
curriculum for undergraduate, graduate, or certifi-
cate courses of study at such covered institutions. 
(2) 
AQUACULTURE
CENTERS
OF
EXCEL-
LENCE.—A covered institution that receives a grant 
under this section shall be known as an ‘‘Aqua-
culture Center of Excellence’’. 
(3) APPLICATIONS.—To be eligible to receive a 
grant under this section, a covered institution shall 
submit to the Administrator an application that in-
cludes any plans to partner with one or more other 
institutions of higher education as authorized under 
paragraph (5). 
(4) USE OF GRANT AMOUNTS.— 
(A) IN
GENERAL.—A covered institution 
receiving a grant under this section shall use 
the grant amounts to establish or enhance an 
aquaculture 
curriculum 
for 
undergraduate, 
graduate, or certificate courses of study that 
may include the following: 
(i) Training in various skills needed 
by successful aquaculture entrepreneurs, 
including— 
(I) offshore aquaculture oper-
ations; 
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(II) business management, stra-
tegic planning, business plan develop-
ment, capital financing and fund-
raising, financial management and ac-
counting, market analysis and com-
petitive analysis, and market entry 
and strategy execution; and 
(III) any other skill specific to 
the needs of the student population 
and the surrounding community, in-
cluding with respect to social and en-
vironmental sustainability, as deter-
mined by the covered institution. 
(ii) Natural and social science re-
search programs in aquaculture and nat-
ural fisheries, including offshore aqua-
culture. 
(iii) Development of extension pro-
grams (or cooperation with existing exten-
sion programs) that— 
(I) educate and engage commu-
nity members, including elementary 
and secondary school students, on 
aquaculture and aquaculture career 
pathways; and 
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(II) transfer newly developed 
techniques and research information 
developed or collated at the covered 
institution 
to 
aquaculture 
stake-
holders. 
(iv) Career development, such as the 
establishment of cooperatives, apprentice-
ships, 
internships, 
practicums, 
mentorships, accelerators, or grant com-
petitions. 
(B) LIMITATIONS
ON
USE
OF
GRANT 
AMOUNTS.—Amounts from a grant awarded 
under this section may be used only for ex-
penses directly related to the implementation of 
the curriculum or activities authorized under 
this section. 
(5) PARTNERSHIPS.—In applying for grants 
and carrying out activities with grant amounts 
under this section, a covered institution may partner 
with one or more other institutions of higher edu-
cation with established aquaculture programs, in-
cluding institutions of higher education not other-
wise eligible for grants under this section, to facili-
tate the sharing of resources and knowledge nec-
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essary for the development or enhancement of aqua-
culture curriculum at the covered institution. 
(c) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is 
authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 
$25,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2030, 
to remain available until expended. 
SEC. 303. WORKING WATERFRONTS PRESERVATION GRANT 
PROGRAM. 
The Coastal Zone Management Act of 1972 (16 
U.S.C. 1451 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 
306A (16 U.S.C. 1455a) the following: 
‘‘(c) WORKING WATERFRONTS GRANT PROGRAM.— 
‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—The Secretary shall, in con-
sultation with covered entities, Federal agencies the 
Secretary determines appropriate, and interested 
coastal stakeholders with expertise in working water-
fronts planning, establish a regionally equitable and 
competitive grant program, to be known as the 
‘Working Waterfronts Grant Program’. 
‘‘(2) USES.—The Secretary may award grants 
under this subsection to eligible covered entities— 
‘‘(A) to implement or revise an approved 
working waterfronts plan of such eligible cov-
ered entity, including— 
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‘‘(i) acquiring a working waterfront or 
an interest in a working waterfront; 
‘‘(ii) making improvements to a work-
ing waterfront, including constructing or 
repairing wharfs, boat ramps, or related 
facilities; or 
‘‘(iii) carrying out necessary climate 
adaptation mitigation activities for a work-
ing waterfront; or 
‘‘(B) to develop a working waterfronts plan 
of such eligible covered entity under subsection 
(b). 
‘‘(3) APPLICATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—To be eligible for a 
grant under this subsection, an eligible covered 
entity shall submit an application to the Sec-
retary— 
‘‘(i) that, if applicable, is consistent 
with the management program of the eligi-
ble covered entity approved under section 
306; and 
‘‘(ii) in such form, at such time, and 
containing such information as the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
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‘‘(B) DEADLINE.—Not later than 60 days 
after the date on which the Secretary receives 
an application for a grant under this para-
graph, the Secretary shall approve or reject 
such application. 
‘‘(4) GUIDELINES.—The Secretary shall, in 
consultation with the entities described in paragraph 
(1), issue guidelines regarding the implementation of 
the grant program. 
‘‘(5) CRITERIA.—In awarding a grant to an eli-
gible covered entity, the Secretary shall take into ac-
count the following criteria: 
‘‘(A) The economic, cultural, and historical 
significance of working waterfronts to the eligi-
ble covered entity. 
‘‘(B) The demonstrated working water-
fronts needs of the eligible covered entity, as 
described in the approved working waterfronts 
plan of the eligible covered entity, if any. 
‘‘(C) The ability of the eligible covered en-
tity to meet the matching requirement under 
paragraph (10). 
‘‘(D) The potential for rapid turnover in 
the ownership of relevant working waterfronts, 
and, if applicable, the need for the eligible cov-
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to implement or revise an approved work-
ing waterfronts plan; 
‘‘(ii) to develop a working waterfronts 
plan for approval under subsection (b); 
‘‘(iii) to implement or revise an ap-
proved working waterfronts plan; 
‘‘(iv) to integrate resilience planning 
into working waterfronts preservation ef-
forts of such eligible covered entity; 
‘‘(v) to develop additional tools to pro-
tect working waterfronts; 
‘‘(vi) regarding guidance for best 
storm water management practices with 
regard to working waterfronts; or 
‘‘(vii) to collect and disseminate best 
practices regarding working waterfronts 
and resilience planning. 
‘‘(B) LIMITATION.—The Secretary may 
use not more than 5 percent of the amounts 
made available under this subsection in each 
fiscal year to provide technical assistance under 
this paragraph. 
‘‘(7) 
PUBLIC
ACCESS
REQUIREMENT.—A 
project carried out with a grant awarded under this 
subsection, other than a project that involves com-
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mercial fishing or other industrial access points to 
which the eligible covered entity determines public 
access would be unsafe, shall provide for the expan-
sion, improvement, or preservation of reasonable and 
appropriate public access to coastal waters at or in 
the vicinity of working waterfronts. 
‘‘(8) LIMITATION ON ACQUISITION.—An eligible 
covered entity that is awarded a grant under this 
subsection, or any entity to which such eligible cov-
ered entity allocates a portion of such grant under 
paragraph (9), may use such grant award to acquire 
title to or an interest in a working waterfront, in-
cluding an easement, only— 
‘‘(A) for fair market value from a willing 
seller; or 
‘‘(B) for less than fair market value from 
a seller that certifies to the Secretary that the 
seller is willing and is not subject to coercion. 
‘‘(9) ALLOCATION.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered en-
tity that is awarded a grant under this sub-
section may allocate a portion of such grant 
award to a unit of State or local government, 
a nonprofit organization, a fishing cooperative, 
or any other appropriate entity for the purpose 
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of carrying out this subsection if such eligible 
covered entity ensures that any such allocated 
grant award is used consistently with this sub-
section. 
‘‘(B) 
IDENTIFIED
WORKING
WATER-
FRONTS.—The Secretary shall encourage each 
eligible covered entity that is awarded a grant 
under this subsection to equitably allocate such 
grant award among working waterfronts identi-
fied in the approved working waterfronts plan 
of each such eligible covered entity, if any. 
‘‘(10) MATCHING REQUIREMENT.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided in 
subparagraph (B), the Federal share of a 
project carried out with a grant awarded under 
this subsection may not exceed 75 percent. 
‘‘(B) WAIVER
OF
MATCHING
REQUIRE-
MENT.—The Secretary may waive the applica-
tion of subparagraph (A)— 
‘‘(i) with respect to an eligible covered 
entity that is awarded a grant under this 
subsection that has designated a qualified 
holder that is located within— 
‘‘(I) a disadvantaged community; 
or 
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‘‘(II) a community that has an 
inability to draw on other sources of 
funding because of the small popu-
lation or low income of the commu-
nity; or 
‘‘(ii) for any other reason the Sec-
retary determines appropriate. 
‘‘(C) NON-FEDERAL
SHARE.—An eligible 
covered entity that is awarded a grant under 
this subsection may satisfy the non-Federal 
share of a project carried out with a grant 
awarded under this subsection through in-kind 
contributions and other noncash support, in-
cluding the following: 
‘‘(i) The value, as determined by an 
appraisal performed at such time before 
the award of the grant as the Secretary de-
termines appropriate, of a working water-
front or an interest in a working water-
front, including conservation and other 
easements, that is held in perpetuity by a 
qualified holder, if the working waterfront 
or interest in a working waterfront— 
‘‘(I) is identified in the grant ap-
plication; and 
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‘‘(II) is acquired by the qualified 
holder not later than 3 years after— 
‘‘(aa) the grant award date; 
or 
‘‘(bb) the date of the sub-
mission of such application and 
before the end of the initial 5- 
year period for which the ap-
proved working waterfronts plan 
associated with the grant applica-
tion, if any, is effective. 
‘‘(ii) The costs, including cash or in- 
kind contributions, associated with the ac-
quisition, restoration, or enhancement of or 
making other improvements to a working 
waterfront or an interest in a working wa-
terfront, if— 
‘‘(I) such costs are identified in 
the grant application; and 
‘‘(II) the costs are incurred— 
‘‘(aa) before the end of the 
initial 5-year period for which the 
approved 
working 
waterfronts 
plan associated with the grant 
application, if any, is effective; or 
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‘‘(bb) for working water-
fronts described in clause (i), 
within the time limits described 
in that clause. 
‘‘(11) WORKING WATERFRONT COVENANTS.— 
‘‘(A) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered en-
tity that is awarded a grant under this sub-
section may use such grant award with respect 
to a working waterfront only for which each 
person other than the eligible covered entity 
that holds title to or an interest in such work-
ing waterfront enters into a working waterfront 
covenant. 
‘‘(B) VIOLATION.— 
‘‘(i) IN GENERAL.—An eligible covered 
entity may determine, on the record after 
an opportunity for a hearing, that a work-
ing waterfront covenant of the eligible cov-
ered entity has been violated. 
‘‘(ii) 
REVERSION; 
CONVEYANCE; 
RIGHT OF IMMEDIATE ENTRY.—If an eligi-
ble covered entity makes a determination 
under clause (i) that a violation described 
under that clause has occurred— 
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‘‘(i) an evaluation, based on perform-
ance measures developed by the Secretary, 
of the effectiveness of the grant program 
in accomplishing the purposes of this sub-
section; 
‘‘(ii) an account of all expenditures 
under this subsection; and 
‘‘(iii) descriptions of each project car-
ried out using a grant awarded under this 
section. 
‘‘(B) ALTERNATIVE MANNER OF SUBMIS-
SION.—The Secretary may submit each report 
required under subparagraph (A) by including 
the information required under that subpara-
graph in each report required under section 
316. 
‘‘(14) ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES.—The Sec-
retary may use not more than 5 percent of the 
amounts made available under this subsection in 
each fiscal year to pay the administrative expenses 
necessary to carry out this subsection. 
‘‘(15) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.— 
There is authorized to be appropriated to the Sec-
retary to carry out this subsection $50,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 2025 through 2029. 
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‘‘(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
‘‘(1) 
APPROVED
WORKING
WATERFRONTS 
PLAN.—The term ‘approved working waterfronts 
plan’ means a working waterfronts plan that is ap-
proved by the Secretary under subsection (b). 
‘‘(2) 
COASTAL
INDIAN
TRIBE.—The 
term 
‘coastal Indian Tribe’ means an Indian Tribe with 
respect to which land owned by the Indian Tribe, 
held in trust by the United States for the Indian 
Tribe, or held by the Indian Tribe and subject to re-
strictions on alienation imposed by the United 
States or the reservation of the Indian Tribe is lo-
cated within a coastal state. 
‘‘(3) COASTAL
USERS.—The term ‘coastal 
users’ means— 
‘‘(A) persons that engage in commercial or 
recreational fishing; 
‘‘(B) recreational fishing and boating busi-
nesses; and 
‘‘(C) boatbuilding, aquaculture, and other 
water-dependent, coastal-related businesses. 
‘‘(4) COVERED ENTITY.—The term ‘covered en-
tity’ means— 
‘‘(A) a coastal state; 
‘‘(B) a coastal Indian Tribe; or 
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‘‘(C) a Native Hawaiian organization. 
‘‘(5) ELIGIBLE
COVERED
ENTITY.—The term 
‘eligible covered entity’ means a covered entity 
that— 
‘‘(A) has an approved working waterfronts 
plan; 
‘‘(B) is in the process of developing a 
working waterfronts plan for approval under 
subsection (b); or 
‘‘(C) has a coastal land use plan that the 
Secretary determines is sufficient for the pur-
poses of this section. 
‘‘(6) GRANT PROGRAM.—The term ‘grant pro-
gram’ means the grant program established under 
subsection (c). 
‘‘(7) INDIAN TRIBE.—The term ‘Indian Tribe’ 
has the meaning given the term in section 4 of the 
Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance 
Act (25 U.S.C. 5304). 
‘‘(8) NATIVE
HAWAIIAN
ORGANIZATION.—The 
term ‘Native Hawaiian organization’ means a non-
profit organization— 
‘‘(A) that serves the interests of Native 
Hawaiians; 
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‘‘(B) in which Native Hawaiians serve in 
substantive and policymaking positions; 
‘‘(C) that is recognized for having expertise 
in Native Hawaiian culture and heritage, in-
cluding tourism; and 
‘‘(D) is located within a coastal state. 
‘‘(9) QUALIFIED HOLDER.—The term ‘qualified 
holder’ means— 
‘‘(A) a unit of local government of a cov-
ered entity, if the covered entity is a coastal 
state; or 
‘‘(B) a nonprofit organization; 
that is designated by a covered entity in the ap-
proved working waterfronts plan of the covered enti-
ty to carry out some or all of the functions of the 
covered entity under the grant program if the cov-
ered entity applies for and is awarded a grant under 
the grant program, including holding title to or an 
interest in a working waterfront acquired with a 
grant awarded under the grant program. 
‘‘(10) TASK FORCE.—The term ‘Task Force’ 
means the task force established under subsection 
(a)(1). 
‘‘(11) 
DISADVANTAGED
COMMUNITY.—The 
term ‘disadvantaged community’ means a commu-
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nity the Secretary determines, based on appropriate 
data, indices, and screening tools, is economically, 
socially, or environmentally disadvantaged. 
‘‘(12) 
WORKING
WATERFRONT.—The 
term 
‘working waterfront’ means real property (including 
support structures over water and other facilities) 
that— 
‘‘(A) provides access to coastal waters by 
coastal users; and 
‘‘(B) is used for, or supports, commercial 
and recreational fishing, recreational fishing 
and boating businesses, and boatbuilding, aqua-
culture, and other water-dependent, coastal-re-
lated business. 
‘‘(13) WORKING
WATERFRONT
COVENANT.— 
The term ‘working waterfront covenant’ means an 
agreement in recordable form entered into between 
a person that holds title to or an interest in a work-
ing waterfront and a covered entity that is awarded 
a grant under the grant program or a qualified hold-
er of such covered entity that provides such assur-
ances as the Secretary determines necessary to en-
sure the following: 
‘‘(A) Except as provided in subparagraph 
(C), the title to or interest in the working wa-
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terfront will be held by an entity that is subject 
to such agreement in perpetuity. 
‘‘(B) The working waterfront will be man-
aged in a manner that is consistent with the 
purposes of this section, and the working water-
front will not be converted to any use that is in-
consistent with this section. 
‘‘(C) If the title to or interest in the work-
ing waterfront is subsequently sold or otherwise 
exchanged— 
‘‘(i) each party involved in such sale 
or exchange shall accede to such agree-
ment; and 
‘‘(ii) funds equal to the fair market 
value of the title to or interest in the work-
ing waterfront shall be paid to the Sec-
retary by the parties to the sale or ex-
change, and such funds shall be, at the 
discretion of the Secretary, paid to the rel-
evant covered entity or a qualified holder 
of such covered entity for use in the imple-
mentation of the approved working water-
fronts plan of the covered entity. 
‘‘(D) Such agreement shall be subject to 
enforcement and oversight by the covered entity 
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or by another person as the Secretary deter-
mines appropriate.’’. 
SEC. 304. OUTREACH ON SUSTAINABLE OFFSHORE AQUA-
CULTURE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall conduct 
outreach on sustainable offshore aquaculture to promote 
understanding, science-based decision making, and com-
mercial adoption. 
(b) ENGAGEMENT.—In carrying out subsection (a), 
the Administrator shall use appropriate means to en-
gage— 
(1) the general public; 
(2) community leaders; 
(3) governmental officials; 
(4) the business community; 
(5) the academic community; and 
(6) the nonprofit sector. 
TITLE IV—STUDIES AND 
REPORTS 
SEC. 401. STUDY ON OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE BY OCEAN 
STUDIES BOARD OF THE NATIONAL ACAD-
EMIES OF SCIENCES, ENGINEERING, AND 
MEDICINE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Administrator shall seek to 
enter into a contract with the Ocean Studies Board of the 
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National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medi-
cine (in this section referred to as the ‘‘Board’’) under 
which the Board shall, not later than 5 years after the 
date on which the Administrator establishes the assess-
ment program under section 201— 
(1) complete a study to develop the scientific 
basis for efficient and effective regulation of offshore 
aquaculture; and 
(2) submit to Congress and make publicly avail-
able the results of the study. 
(b) ELEMENTS.—The study completed pursuant to 
subsection (a) shall, with respect to offshore aqua-
culture— 
(1) identify— 
(A) optimal methods of operation of off-
shore aquaculture facilities to limit adverse ef-
fects on the environment, wildlife, and human 
well-being, including— 
(i) considerations to guide siting deci-
sions of such facilities; 
(ii) appropriate stocking densities; and 
(iii) opportunities for selective breed-
ing; 
(B) a science-based definition of ‘‘respon-
sible offshore aquaculture feed or other inputs’’, 
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including guidance on sourcing feed or other in-
puts to address long-or short-term concerns, in-
cluding the availability and scalability of such 
inputs; 
(C) potential adverse effects on the envi-
ronment, wildlife, and human well-being, includ-
ing from— 
(i) the use of antibiotics and other 
pharmaceuticals by offshore aquaculture 
facilities, including through analyses nec-
essary to establish acceptable rates, impact 
levels, and risk thresholds, such as anal-
yses of organism antibiotic consumption or 
metabolization versus excretion to the sur-
rounding environment; 
(ii) assimilation of pollution origi-
nating from offshore aquaculture facilities 
on marine organisms; 
(iii) abandoned, lost, damaged or oth-
erwise discarded equipment; 
(iv) harmful interactions with wildlife; 
(v) interbreeding between cultured 
species and native marine species; 
(vi) the spread of disease from cul-
tured species to wild species; 
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(vii) the collection and removal of 
brood stock for offshore aquaculture oper-
ations, and hatcheries and prestocking 
rearing operations that are specific to off-
shore aquaculture; 
(viii) large-scale cultivation of filter- 
feed bivalve organisms and seaweed; 
(ix) offshore aquaculture facilities act-
ing as aggregating devices and increasing 
the vulnerability of wild fisheries and wild-
life populations to fishing or other sources 
of mortality; 
(x) predator control devices and meth-
ods; and 
(xi) the use of non-sustainable sources 
of feed or other inputs, including the use 
of globally limited marine resources for 
feed ingredients, and scalability of alter-
natives, including— 
(I) novel ingredients (for exam-
ple, insect, single cell protein, and 
algae); 
(II) traditional ingredients (for 
example, soya); and 
(III) other inputs; 
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(D) potential methods and technologies to 
mitigate adverse effects, including the effects 
identified under subparagraph (C); 
(E) potential conflicts between offshore 
aquaculture facilities and other users of the off-
shore environment, and solutions to mitigate 
such conflicts; 
(F) the types of data and qualitative infor-
mation necessary for the optimal operation of 
offshore aquaculture facilities and appropriate 
methods of procuring such data and informa-
tion, including from— 
(i) citizen science (as defined in sec-
tion 402(c) of the Crowdsourcing and Cit-
izen Science Act (15 U.S.C. 3724(c))); and 
(ii) the traditional knowledge of Trib-
al and Indigenous communities; and 
(G) best practices for offshore aquaculture 
siting and operations to manage and plan for 
predicted changes in global atmospheric and 
oceanographic conditions; and 
(2) provide recommendations for legislative or 
administrative action with respect to— 
(A) methods of operation identified under 
paragraph (1)(A); 
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(B) mitigating adverse effects identified 
under paragraph (1)(C); 
(C) environmental standards, control rules, 
or reference points that build on the existing 
public and private standards for the sustain-
ability of offshore aquaculture; and 
(D) ensuring that operators of offshore 
aquaculture facilities adhere to international 
standards 
for 
social 
responsibility, 
public 
health, and equitable labor practices, including 
with respect to sourcing inputs for such facili-
ties. 
SEC. 402. REPORT ON OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE BY GOV-
ERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 5 years after the 
date on which the Administrator establishes the assess-
ment program under section 201, the Comptroller General 
of the United States shall submit to the appropriate com-
mittees of Congress a report examining the permitting, 
monitoring, and regulation of offshore aquaculture during 
the 15-year period ending on such date of establishment. 
(b) BASES OF REPORT.—The Comptroller General 
shall base the report required by subsection (a) on avail-
able literature, case studies, and aquaculture stakeholder 
input. 
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(c) ELEMENTS OF REPORT.—The report required by 
subsection (a) shall— 
(1) assess the feasibility and potential positive 
and negative implications of designating a lead agen-
cy to issue permits for offshore aquaculture oper-
ations in a timely manner; 
(2) identify lessons learned during the period 
described in subsection (a) with respect to— 
(A) the effect of offshore aquaculture type, 
location, and regulatory framework on the suc-
cess of offshore aquaculture projects; 
(B) the degree of involvement of coastal or 
adjacent States or Tribal or Indigenous commu-
nities in consultations for, planning for, or op-
erations of offshore aquaculture; 
(C) safety protocols and risk mitigation 
measures for the permitting and oversight proc-
esses for offshore aquaculture, including— 
(i) escape prevention measures; 
(ii) emergency event response plan-
ning; 
(iii) compliance monitoring, particu-
larly in remote locations; 
(iv) compliance with Federal laws; 
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(v) mechanisms for reporting to ap-
propriate Federal authorities; and 
(vi) vessel navigation aids to ensure 
navigational safety; 
(D) the effect of incentives to reduce ad-
verse effects or disparate impacts from offshore 
aquaculture operations; 
(E) building and optimizing synergies be-
tween offshore aquaculture and wild-caught 
fishing activities, or offshore, nearshore, and 
onshore aquaculture activities, including market 
development, increasing seafood consumption, 
and shared infrastructure; 
(F) the environmental effects of offshore 
aquaculture operations, including mechanisms 
to prevent harm to the environment, wildlife, or 
human well-being; 
(G) the net economic and social benefits of 
offshore aquaculture projects, particularly for 
nearby communities and fishery stakeholders, 
based on project size, regulatory structures, and 
financing structures; 
(H) the impact of introducing offshore 
aquaculture products to the marketplace on 
supply and demand for wild-capture fisheries 
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products, and methods for ensuring resiliency 
and growth for both offshore aquaculture and 
wild-capture fisheries products; 
(I) mechanisms to enhance capital invest-
ment, workforce development, and equitable op-
portunity requirements or assistance programs 
in the permitting process for offshore aqua-
culture, or to diversify permit applicants; 
(J) outstanding needs for continued re-
search, development, education activities, pro-
grams, and funding regarding— 
(i) offshore aquaculture projects; and 
(ii) development of the domestic work-
force and entrepreneurship related to off-
shore aquaculture; 
(K) the economic potential for both large- 
and small-scale offshore aquaculture operations 
to generate a positive return on investment 
under various regulatory and financing struc-
tures; 
(L) the applicability and sufficiency of ex-
isting regulatory systems for offshore aqua-
culture; and 
(M) existing local, State, Federal, and for-
eign regulatory standards that may serve as 
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models for efficient and effective regulation of 
offshore aquaculture; and 
(3) include such recommendations as the Comp-
troller General may have with respect to future off-
shore aquaculture operations, including with respect 
to— 
(A) regulatory processes necessary for per-
mitting, monitoring, and oversight, including 
processes and techniques related to siting, de-
ployment, operations, and decommissioning; 
(B) potential safeguards, data collection, 
or monitoring required to minimize disparate 
impacts on specially affected coastal jurisdic-
tions (as defined in section 202(e)), fishery 
stakeholders, local economies, marine environ-
ments, and existing domestic economic sectors; 
(C) mechanisms for optimizing coordina-
tion among Federal agencies with a role in per-
mitting or supporting offshore aquaculture 
without compromising the goals of such permit-
ting; 
(D) methods for effectively involving aqua-
culture stakeholders, including— 
(i) specially affected coastal jurisdic-
tions (as defined in section 202(e)); 
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(ii) local communities; 
(iii) regional offshore waters users 
and management groups, including re-
gional fishery management councils; and 
(iv) users of local, State, Tribal, and 
Federal waters and coastal resources; 
(E) best practices for incorporating local 
knowledge, including from Tribal or Indigenous 
communities; 
(F) capabilities of Federal agencies that 
are necessary for effective regulation of the off-
shore aquaculture sector; and 
(G) how creating private rights of action or 
waiving sovereign immunity would affect the de-
velopment of offshore aquaculture projects and 
the acceptance of such projects by nearshore 
and offshore waters user groups and coastal 
communities. 
Æ 
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