New Bill Slams the Door on Finfish Farming in Federal Waters, Banning Commercial Aquaculture Indefinitely

The “Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025” is short, but it packs a punch, delivering an absolute ban on commercial finfish farming in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ)—that’s the vast area of ocean stretching from state waters out to 200 miles. Think of the EEZ as the federal government’s backyard for ocean policy; this bill essentially puts up a 'No Trespassing' sign for anyone looking to raise fish with fins for sale.

The Absolute Ban on Commercial Finfish

Section 2 is the core of this bill, stating clearly that no federal agency—not NOAA, not the Army Corps of Engineers, nobody—can issue permits or take any action that would allow commercial finfish aquaculture to start up in the EEZ. This is a total halt on developing an offshore finfish industry. The only way around it? Congress itself would have to pass a new, specific law later on, overriding this ban (SEC. 2).

For the entrepreneurs and seafood companies who have been eyeing the EEZ as the next frontier for domestic seafood production, this is a major roadblock. They’ve been arguing that farming fish like salmon or cod offshore could boost U.S. seafood independence and create jobs. This bill says, 'Not on our watch,' locking out the industry entirely and requiring a high legislative hurdle—a new Act of Congress—for any future authorization.

Who Gets a Pass?

It’s important to note what this bill doesn’t ban. The definition of “finfish” covers any fish with fins, but it specifically excludes shellfish (like oysters, clams, and mussels) and seaweed (SEC. 2). This means if you’re running a small operation farming oysters in federal waters, you’re safe—the bill only targets the kind of large-scale, open-net cage farming often associated with finfish like salmon, which some groups worry can pollute the ocean or spread disease to wild stocks.

This carve-out creates an interesting dynamic: the existing wild-capture fishing industry and environmental groups concerned about open-ocean cages may see this as a win for protecting marine ecosystems. Meanwhile, companies looking to invest in finfish aquaculture are completely shut down, which could stifle innovation in domestic seafood production. If the U.S. wants to reduce its reliance on imported seafood, this bill forces that growth to happen entirely on land or within state waters, which are often limited in space and subject to different regulations.

The Real-World Impact on Your Plate

What does this mean for the busy person? Right now, the U.S. imports a huge percentage of its seafood. Developing a domestic aquaculture industry—even a regulated one—could potentially stabilize prices and improve traceability. By banning finfish farming in federal waters, this bill eliminates a major potential source of future domestic supply. While it avoids potential environmental risks associated with open-ocean fish cages, it also means that any future growth in cheaper, domestically farmed finfish that could hit the market is off the table unless Congress acts again. It’s a definite trade-off: environmental protection in the EEZ versus the development of a new domestic food source.