I 
119TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4898 
To support equity for aquaculture and seafood at the Department of 
Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
AUGUST 5, 2025 
Mr. PALLONE (for himself and Mrs. CAMMACK) introduced the following bill; 
which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture 
A BILL 
To support equity for aquaculture and seafood at the 
Department of Agriculture, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 
(a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 
‘‘Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act’’ or 
the ‘‘SEAS Act’’. 
(b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.—The table of contents for 
this Act is as follows: 
Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 
Sec. 2. Aquaculture defined. 
TITLE I—REPORTS ON AQUACULTURE 
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Sec. 101. Report on Department of Agriculture seafood purchases and grants. 
Sec. 102. Report on Department of Agriculture support for aquaculture and 
the seafood industry. 
Sec. 103. Seafood industry defined. 
TITLE II—PROMOTING EQUITY FOR AQUACULTURE AT 
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Sec. 201. Promoting equity for aquaculture producers in administration of De-
partment of Agriculture grant programs. 
Sec. 202. Department of Agriculture internal education requirement. 
TITLE III—SUPPORT FOR AQUACULTURE PRODUCERS 
Sec. 301. Regional aquaculture centers. 
Sec. 302. Shellfish research under Agriculture and Food Research Initiative. 
Sec. 303. Crop insurance policy for aquaculture products. 
SEC. 2. AQUACULTURE DEFINED. 
In this Act, the term ‘‘aquaculture’’ means the con-
trolled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of fish, shellfish, 
sea vegetables, and other organisms in freshwater, salt-
water, and any other controlled water environments. 
TITLE I—REPORTS ON 
AQUACULTURE 
SEC. 101. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SEA-
FOOD PURCHASES AND GRANTS. 
Not later than 1 year after the date of the enactment 
of this Act, and annually thereafter through fiscal year 
2028, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to Con-
gress a report that includes, with respect to the previous 
fiscal year— 
(1) the total amount of expenditures of the De-
partment of Agriculture on seafood purchases and 
aquaculture purchases and the value of such expend-
itures; 
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(2) the total amount of expenditures of the De-
partment on seafood and aquaculture promotion and 
outreach supporting the seafood and aquaculture in-
dustries and the value of such expenditures; 
(3) the number of grants made by the Secretary 
of Agriculture to the seafood industry and aqua-
culture industry, and the amount of such grants; 
and 
(4) the number of grants made by the Secretary 
of Agriculture to facilitate seafood and aquaculture 
research, the amount of such grants, and the subject 
matter of such research. 
SEC. 102. REPORT ON DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE SUP-
PORT FOR AQUACULTURE AND THE SEAFOOD 
INDUSTRY. 
Not later than 2 years after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit 
to Congress a report— 
(1) evaluating the Department of Agriculture’s 
role in supporting aquaculture and the seafood in-
dustry; 
(2) evaluating the domestic seafood processing 
capacity of the United States and the impact of 
overseas processing on domestic supply chains, aqua-
culture, and the seafood industry; 
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(3) examining the access to the Department of 
Agriculture’s grants and resources aquaculture and 
seafood producers have, as compared to traditional 
land-based farmers; 
(4) evaluating the potential environmental bene-
fits of aquaculture, with respect to climate, conserva-
tion, and pollution; 
(5) evaluating the potential negative impacts of 
aquaculture, with respect to pollution, waste, dis-
ease, and other repercussions; and 
(6) providing recommendations to support and 
advance best practices for aquaculture in the United 
States. 
SEC. 103. SEAFOOD INDUSTRY DEFINED. 
In this title, the term ‘‘seafood industry’’ means shell-
fish growers, shellfish harvesters, sea vegetable growers, 
fish farmers, commercial fishermen that harvest shellfish 
or finfish, and other aquaculture producers. 
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TITLE II—PROMOTING EQUITY 
FOR AQUACULTURE AT DE-
PARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
SEC. 201. PROMOTING EQUITY FOR AQUACULTURE PRO-
DUCERS IN ADMINISTRATION OF DEPART-
MENT OF AGRICULTURE GRANT PROGRAMS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—In awarding grants (or other as-
sistance) under programs administered by the Secretary, 
the Secretary shall give the same consideration to aqua-
culture producers as animal agriculture producers. 
(b) AQUACULTURE FUNDING.—The Secretary shall 
ensure adequate and fair funding levels are made available 
to aquaculture producers through grants (or other assist-
ance) under Department of Agriculture programs. 
(c) ANIMAL AGRICULTURE DEFINED.—In this sec-
tion, the term ‘‘animal agriculture’’ means the raising, 
breeding, harvesting, and slaughtering of beef, lamb, goat, 
pork, duck, poultry, and other land-based organisms for 
consumption and the production of animal products, in-
cluding milk, eggs, meat, skins, fibers, bones, feathers, 
and other byproducts. 
SEC. 202. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE INTERNAL EDU-
CATION REQUIREMENT. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Subtitle B of the Department of 
Agriculture Reorganization Act of 1994 (7 U.S.C. 6931 
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et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 226B (7 
U.S.C. 6934) the following: 
‘‘SEC. 226C. AQUACULTURE EDUCATION. 
‘‘(a) FSA OFFICES.—The Secretary shall develop 
and implement a requirement for employees of each re-
gional office of the Farm Service Agency with respect to 
education on aquaculture. Such requirement shall include 
training for all existing and new employees on— 
‘‘(1) eligibility for aquaculture-related Federal 
grants and programs; 
‘‘(2) the role of aquaculture in United States 
agriculture; and 
‘‘(3) the support the Department of Agriculture 
provides to seafood producers and aquaculture. 
‘‘(b) MEMORANDUM.—Not later than 2 years after 
the date of the enactment of this section, the Secretary 
shall issue a department-wide memorandum that— 
‘‘(1) affirms the Department of Agriculture’s 
current position that aquaculture plays a vital role 
in the United States agriculture system; and 
‘‘(2) reiterates the eligibility of aquaculture and 
seafood products and producers for programs admin-
istered by the Secretary. 
‘‘(c) WEBINARS.—The Secretary shall, beginning not 
later than 2 years after the date of the enactment of this 
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