SSA Urges NOAA to Protect Traditional Fishing Grounds as NOAA Plans Next Offshore Aquaculture Areas
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) is urging the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to protect traditional commercial fishing grounds as the agency prepares for the next round of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in U.S. waters. The call comes as NOAA considers locations that could support large-scale commercial aquaculture and offshore aquaculture development, raising concerns among wild-capture fishermen about access to productive fishing grounds.
On September 1, 2026, the Southern Shrimp Alliance filed comments in response to NOAA’s Request for Information on Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in U.S. Waters (NOAA-NMFS-2026-2179), which was published in the Federal Register on July 30, 2026. NOAA is seeking information as part of the next phase of its AOA identification process, which involves identifying ocean areas that may be suitable for future large-scale commercial aquaculture development.
The AOA identification process represents the first critical step in a multi-year process that will shape subsequent planning and environmental review of potential offshore aquaculture sites in the South Atlantic.
SSA Draws on More than Two Decades of Fisheries Experience
The Southern Shrimp Alliance has more than two decades of experience participating in the AOA process and has repeatedly raised concerns about the potential impact of offshore aquaculture on wild-capture fisheries.
The organization previously submitted detailed comments on the draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement for the Gulf of America AOAs. That sustained engagement helped keep two areas with significant shrimp fishing activity, C-3 and C-13, out of the final Gulf siting decision.
The comments submitted this week build on that earlier work as NOAA moves forward with consideration of potential AOA sites in the South Atlantic.
Aquaculture Should Complement Wild-Capture Fisheries
At the center of SSA’s comments is NOAA’s own stated goal of considering how and where aquaculture can be developed sustainably while complementing wild-capture fisheries, working waterfronts, and the nation’s seafood processing and distribution infrastructure.
SSA argues that American wild-capture fisheries are already facing a precarious economic position, while coastal communities across the country are seeing processing capacity and working waterfronts disappear.
From the organization’s perspective, aquaculture development that displaces established fishing grounds, restricts access to productive waters, or creates additional navigational hazards could further accelerate those challenges.
SSA’s message to NOAA is straightforward: aquaculture should supplement domestic seafood production rather than replace or diminish existing wild-capture fisheries.
Fishermen Should have a Voice Before Areas are Selected
SSA is calling for meaningful involvement from fishermen before any fishing grounds are considered for designation as Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.
The organization says NOAA should consult directly with active commercial fishermen, fishing organizations, Regional Fishery Management Councils, and state marine fisheries agencies before an area moves forward for additional review, rather than consulting stakeholders only after preferred locations have already been selected.
SSA also emphasizes that fishing areas should not be considered unimportant simply because they are not used throughout the year.
Seasonal Fishing Grounds Remain Economically Important
According to SSA, “unused” does not mean unavailable.
Some fishing grounds may be used seasonally rather than year-round, but they can remain critically important to commercial fishermen. SSA is therefore advocating for marine spatial mapping supported by long-term vessel tracking data, alongside direct consultation with the fishing industry.
Such an approach would provide NOAA with a clearer picture of how fishing activity changes across different areas and seasons before potential aquaculture locations are considered.
Technical Suitability is Not the Only Consideration
SSA is also asking NOAA to look beyond whether an area is technically suitable for aquaculture development.
The organization says the agency should assess whether aquaculture infrastructure, including cages, lines, anchors and buoys, could interfere with commercial fishing access, vessel traffic or the safe deployment and retrieval of fishing gear.
For commercial fishermen, the concern is not simply whether an area can physically support aquaculture infrastructure, but whether that infrastructure could affect existing maritime activities and access to fishing grounds.
SSA Calls for Smaller Aquaculture Opportunity Areas
Another major point in SSA’s comments is the size of potential Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.
The organization is urging NOAA to keep AOAs as small as necessary and avoid designating large areas solely around the objective of facilitating aquaculture development.
SSA says that determining the number and footprint of farms within an AOA should prioritize the preservation of available fishing grounds and safe vessel navigation.
Balancing Offshore Aquaculture and Commercial Fishing
The latest comments highlight the challenge facing U.S. policymakers as they consider the future of offshore aquaculture and domestic seafood production while attempting to protect established commercial fisheries.
SSA’s position is that the expansion of aquaculture should be carefully planned so that new development complements existing fishing activity rather than limiting access to traditional fishing grounds. Its recommendations place fishermen input, marine spatial planning, vessel tracking data, navigation safety and protection of wild-capture fisheries at the center of the AOA identification process.
