Aquaculture on the West Coast

NOAA Fisheries has a multi-faceted role in aquaculture, from supporting science and research to federal policy-making and regulation. Specifically, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region works closely with a variety of partners to expand opportunities to grow marine products such as fish, shellfish, and algae, and restore native populations of Olympia oysters, white abalone, bull kelp and Pacific salmon. Partners include regional tribes; the states of Washington, Oregon, and California; the aquaculture industry; academia; and non-governmental organizations.

To encourage sustainable local aquaculture development, NOAA Fisheries West Coast Region:

1. Conducts Endangered Species Act and Essential Fish Habitat consultations on aquaculture projects and assists local regulatory agencies and applicants throughout the permitting process
2. Works with the Northwest and Southwest Fisheries Science Centers to provide and communicate the best available science to growers, our regulatory and permitting agencies, and the Office of Aquaculture
3. Connects growers, researchers, and non-governmental organizations to regional and national funding opportunities

Aquaculture can be used for many purposes.

• Commercial aquaculture is the propagation, or rearing, of aquatic organisms for commercial purposes, such as human consumption
• Restoration aquaculture is generally used to increase numbers of threatened and endangered populations of marine species
• Enhancement aquaculture is used to support commercial or recreational harvest by increasing numbers of targeted species

Please find below links and information with further information on aquaculture; our federal and regional partners; permitting, siting, and grant resources; education and outreach resources; and various shellfish Initiatives.

For more information on aquaculture in the West Coast Region, sign up for the quarterly WCR Aquaculture Newsletter or contact our Aquaculture Coordinators:

• Washington/Oregon: Teri King at teri.king@noaa.gov
• California: Celia Barroso at celia.barroso@noaa.gov

About Aquaculture on the West Coast

• Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture
• Commercial Finfish Aquaculture
• Shellfish Enhancement & Restoration
• Finfish Enhancement & Restoration

Resources

• Permit Information and Resources
  • Updated Nationwide Permit 48 (March 2021)
• Management and Siting Resources
• West Coast Aquaculture Funding Opportunities
• National Aquaculture Funding Opportunities

Partners

Our efforts to restore and sustain healthy populations of shellfish and finfish require the cooperation of many partners. These collaborations help foster sound science and promote the use of advanced technology and engineering to ensure that our seafood is sustainable, healthy, and contributing to the economic growth of our region. This list is not comprehensive, and we appreciate all who support advancing sustainable aquaculture.

National

• Federal Agencies
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture
    • Western Regional Aquaculture Center
  • Environmental Protection Agency
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
  • U.S. Coast Guard
  • Other NOAA Departments
    • NOAA's Northwest Fisheries Science Center
    • NOAA's Southwest Fisheries Science Center
    • NOAA's Restoration Center
    • NOAA Seafood Inspection Program
    • National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS)
    • National Ocean Service (NOS)
• Non-Governmental Organizations
  • The Nature Conservancy
  • World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

Tribal Nations

• Sovereign Nations on the West Coast
• Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission

Regional

• Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
• Northwest Aquaculture Alliance

Washington

• Washington Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
• State Agencies
  • Washington Department of Ecology
  • Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Washington Department of Agriculture
  • Washington Department of Natural Resources
  • Washington Department of Health
  • Puget Sound Partnership
• Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Puget Sound Restoration Fund
  • Seattle Aquarium
  • Nature Conservancy in Washington
  • Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium

Oregon

• Oregon Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
• Institute for Natural Resources
• State Agencies
  • Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Oregon Department of Environmental Quality
  • Oregon Department of State Lands
  • Oregon Department of Agriculture
• Non-Governmental Organizations
  • Oregon Coast Aquarium
  • Oregon Aquaculture Association

California

• California Sea Grant, Sustainable Aquaculture
• State Agencies
  • California Department of Fish and Wildlife
  • California Department of Public Health
  • California State Water Resources Council
  • California Coastal Commission
• Non-Governmental Organizations
  • San Diego Oceans Foundation
  • Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific
  • Monterey Bay Aquarium
• Academic Institutions
  • University of California at Davis, Bodega Marine Laboratory
  • Scripps Institute of Oceanography (SCIO)

Education & Outreach Resources

• NOAA Aquaculture Research Story Map: Farming in Water
• NOAA Aquaculture Story Map: Coastal Aquaculture Siting and Sustainability
• NOAA Education
• NOAA Office of Education: Aquaculture Initiative
• Puget Sound Restoration Fund: Pinto Abalone Recovery

Shellfish Initiatives

• California Shellfish Initiative
• Oregon Shellfish Initiative
• Washington Shellfish Initiative
• National Shellfish Initiative