The Complex Regulatory Framework for U.S. Aquaculture

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Government regulations play a critical role in protecting citizens and promoting environmental and social well-being; however, in the United States, the complexity of the regulatory framework has generated unintended economic and environmental consequences. While regulations have improved quality of life domestically, they have also imposed substantial compliance costs on U.S. aquaculture producers, reduced industry competitiveness, and shifted socio-economic and environmental impacts abroad through increased seafood imports. In 2022, U.S. aquaculture farm businesses contributed $4 billion in economic output and supported 22,000 jobs, yet evidence suggests that regulatory reform could increase these contributions by an estimated 36%. U.S. aquaculture is governed by at least 29 Congressional Acts and an estimated 170,000 regulatory restrictions, nearly half related to production activities. In 2023 alone, regulatory compliance costs reached $196 million, with revenue losses of $807 million, disproportionately affecting small-scale farms and contributing to slow industry growth. This bulletin documents the multilayered federal, state, and local regulatory landscape faced by U.S. aquaculture producers by synthesizing data from nine farm-level regulatory cost surveys, supplemented by industry input and targeted research. Federal and state regulations are categorized across key operational areas, highlighting regulatory redundancy and providing a foundation for informed policy reform aimed at streamlining oversight while maintaining environmental and social protections.