(f) TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR OPERATORS.—The 
Secretary shall organize through the Office of Aquaculture 
and the Regional Aquaculture Coordinators, a program to 
provide technical assistance to operators in each regional 
fisheries office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration. The programs shall be tailored to meet 
the unique needs of each region, but shall conduct indi-
vidual consultations with each operator in the region on 
a regular basis to assess the status of the operator’s busi-
ness, and if appropriate, identify available resources to 
support the operator, such as regional experts, university 
extension agents, and grant opportunities. 
(g) CAPITAL MARKETS.— 
(1) OUTREACH TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS.— 
In order to enhance access to capital markets, the 
Secretary shall provide financial institutions and in-
vestment firms with objective, science-based informa-
tion on offshore aquaculture and the Federal regu-
latory regime that governs it. 
(2) ECONOMIC ANALYSIS.—In addition, the Sec-
retary shall provide economic analysis to answer 
queries regarding the value of offshore aquaculture 
assets to secure financing, such as equipment, gov-
ernmental permits, inventory, and intellectual prop-
erty. 
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(3) COLLABORATION.—In order to achieve the 
goals of this subsection, the Secretary is encouraged 
to collaborate with the Secretary of Agriculture, the 
Secretary of the Treasury, and the regional networks 
established under subsection (d). 
SEC. 403. OUTREACH AND EDUCATION. 
The Secretary shall conduct outreach on sustainable 
offshore aquaculture to promote understanding, science- 
based decision making, and commercial adoption. The Sec-
retary shall use appropriate means to engage— 
(1) the general public; 
(2) community leaders; 
(3) governmental officials; 
(4) the business community; 
(5) the academic community; and 
(6) the nonprofit sector. 
SEC. 404. ADMINISTRATION. 
(a) REGULATIONS.—The Secretary— 
(1) shall initiate a rulemaking process, not later 
than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, 
after consulting with relevant Federal agencies, 
coastal States, federally recognized Indian Tribes 
within the meaning of such term in Executive Order 
13175 (65 Fed. Reg. 67249), the Commonwealth of 
Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the United States 
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Virgin Islands, Guam, the Commonwealth of the 
Northern Mariana Islands, Regional Fishery Man-
agement Councils as established under section 302 
of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and 
Management Act (16 U.S.C. 1852), and interstate 
fisheries commissions to implement this Act, includ-
ing— 
(A) procedures to issue, modify, deny, re-
voke, or suspend an offshore aquaculture per-
mit in accordance with this Act; 
(B) procedures to coordinate the offshore 
aquaculture permitting process, with similar or 
complementary activities administered by other 
Federal agencies, federally recognized Indian 
Tribes, and coastal States; 
(C) procedures to monitor and evaluate 
permit compliance to verify and confirm compli-
ance with the requirements of this Act; 
(D) procedures to transfer an offshore 
aquaculture permit from an original permit 
holder to a person that meets the requirements 
under section 202; 
(E) procedures to minimize conflicts with 
existing uses in the exclusive economic zone; 
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(F) procedures to consider public-private 
partnerships; and 
(G) standards for determining what types 
of feed may be employed in an offshore aqua-
culture facility in accordance with the require-
ments of section 302; 
(2) shall promulgate such additional regulations 
as are necessary and appropriate to carry out this 
Act; and 
(3) may amend a regulation at any time. 
(b) AGREEMENTS.—The Secretary may enter into 
and perform such contracts, leases, or cooperative agree-
ments, and make and receive such grants or funds, as may 
be necessary to carry out this Act. 
(c) USE
OF CONTRIBUTED GOVERNMENTAL RE-
SOURCES.—For enforcement under this Act, the Secretary 
may use, with consent and with or without reimbursement, 
and consistent with applicable law, the land, services, 
equipment, personnel, and facilities of— 
(1) any department, agency, or instrumentality 
of the United States; 
(2) any State, local government, Tribal govern-
ment, territory, or possession (or any political sub-
division thereof); 
(3) any foreign government; or 
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(4) an international organization. 
(d) AUTHORITY TO USE GRANT FUNDS.— 
(1) IN GENERAL.—Except as provided under 
paragraph (2), the Secretary may apply for, accept, 
and obligate research grant funding from any Fed-
eral source operating a competitive grant program if 
the funding furthers the purposes of this Act. 
(2) EXCEPTION.—The Secretary may not apply 
for, accept, or obligate any research grant funding 
under paragraph (1) if the granting agency lacks au-
thority to grant funds to Federal agencies or for any 
purpose, or subject to any condition, that is prohib-
ited by law or regulation. 
(3) MATCHING
GRANT
FUNDS.—Appropriated 
funds may be used to satisfy a requirement to match 
grant funds with recipient agency funds, except that 
no grant may be accepted that requires a commit-
ment in advance of appropriations. 
(4) ACCOUNTS.—Funds received from a grant 
shall be deposited in the National Oceanic and At-
mospheric Administration account that serves to ac-
complish the purpose for which the grant was 
awarded. 
(e) RESERVATION OF AUTHORITY.—Nothing in this 
Act shall be construed to displace, supersede, or limit the 
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