A new explainer from FoodPrint describes how the Marine Aquaculture Research for America (MARA) Act would fast-track offshore, commercial fish farms in U.S. waters under the premise of “research.” It outlines how the bill would worsen environmental harms, expand industrial seafood production, and use public resources rather than supporting America’s current fishing communities. The piece also highlights how these projects could pave the way for long-term industry expansion in public waters.

Melanie Brown, a fourth generation Alaskan fisherwoman and board member of the North American Marine Alliance, points out that the scale and goals of MARA go further than similar bills in the past: “In the name of ‘research,’ finfish netpens would be built in U.S. federal waters and pave the way for more to come.”

Get FoodPrint’s full scoop on why fish farms don’t belong in our waters →

Pictured: A large fish farm near Amarynthos, Euboea, Greece. Photo credit: Jebulon (2016, CC0).