Presidential Executive Order 13921, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth (May 7, 2020), called for the expansion of sustainable seafood production in the U.S. to ensure food security; provide environmentally safe and sustainable seafood; support American workers; and remove unnecessary regulatory burdens. To support the E.O. requirement to identify AOAs, NOAA’s National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science collaborated with NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service to initiate a marine spatial planning study to identify potential AOA options in the federal waters of the U.S. Gulf of America (formerly Gulf of Mexico).
Aquaculture application: An AOA is a defined geographic area that has been evaluated to determine its potential suitability for commercial aquaculture. NOAA used a combination of scientific analysis and public engagement to identify areas within the AOA that may be environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate for commercial aquaculture.