Local opinion: From cacti to catfish: How Arizona’s lawmakers can help the U.S. increase sustainable seafood production

Despite its arid climate and abundance of cacti, Arizona has a growing aquaculture, or fish farming, industry that offers a promising solution to help meet the rising demand for American-raised seafood. But there is more that can be done by our state’s lawmakers in Congress to facilitate the industry’s growth and help increase our supply of local, affordable and climate-friendly seafood.

Arizona’s warm winter weather provides ideal conditions to grow warm-water fish like tilapia, catfish, and barramundi. These fish grow quickly and can be raised year-round in irrigation water, helping to ensure a consistent supply of fresh, local seafood. Arizona fish farms currently produce around 500,000 pounds of fish annually, which helps to stock our local stores and markets with an abundant supply of nutritious seafood for families.

Aquaculture has become the fastest-growing food production sector worldwide. This is because advances in science and technology over the past few decades have made aquaculture one of the most sustainable forms of protein production today.

In Arizona, unique innovations in water recycling technologies for aquaculture have enhanced the industry’s sustainability. By sharing water sources with agriculture, aquaculture supports multiple uses of water, benefiting both food production sectors. This integration with agriculture is a hallmark of Arizona’s aquaculture sector, driven by necessity due to the state’s lack of large ponds typical in other, more temperate regions. These cutting-edge water recycling technologies make “more crop per drop” a reality, maximizing water efficiency and potential. Some innovative farms are even utilizing aquaponics, which combines aquaculture with hydroponics to grow plants and fish together, creating a truly sustainable nearly closed-loop system.

Similarly to Arizona’s growing industry, several states across the country benefit from aquaculture production, including with land-based farms or offshore farms in state waters. However, inefficient federal permitting processes and a lack of regulatory certainty in the U.S. have hindered the industry’s growth by limiting the expansion of offshore aquaculture in federal waters. As a result, the U.S. ranks only 17th in aquaculture production worldwide. The U.S. aquaculture market is valued at $1.5 billion, representing only 0.6% of the $263 billion global aquaculture market.

It may be surprising to learn that 80% of the seafood consumed in the U.S., including 99% of the seafood consumed here in Arizona, is imported from foreign countries. In fact, most of our seafood comes from Asia and Europe, where much of it is farm-raised through aquaculture. Aquaculture produces nearly 60% of all the seafood consumed globally today.

Our representatives in Washington, D.C., can change this by passing legislation that would enable the U.S. to tap into the full potential of aquaculture by supporting growth of American offshore aquaculture. A bill supported by a bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress would provide the certainty needed to encourage investments in American offshore fish farms. The Advancing the Quality and Understanding of American Aquaculture (AQUAA) Act (H.R.4013/S.1861) would establish national standards for offshore aquaculture, clarifying the regulatory system for farming fish in the U.S. exclusive economic zone (EEZ).

With the passage of legislation to support a robust American aquaculture industry, federal lawmakers can help support growth of an aquaculture industry here at home so that we can lessen our dependence on foreign seafood and reap the benefits that this emerging industry would provide. As aquaculture businesses grow, there will be an increase in jobs across the seafood supply chain, creating new economic opportunities in states with coastal communities, and inland states with water that can be used for multiple purposes. America’s rural agricultural communities would also benefit as demand for sustainable, plant-based fish feed grows, creating a new market for farmers of crops that can be used in feed, such as soy, peas, and corn.

To fully realize the economic potential of American aquaculture, federal lawmakers need to support legislation to facilitate the industry’s growth into offshore waters. This support will enhance our ability to provide healthy and affordable seafood to more people, in complement with our nation’s wild fisheries and our land-based aquaculture operations. As Americans seek to add more nutritious seafood options to their diets, now is the time to harness the potential of sustainable aquaculture in America.