April 30, 2025
Mr. Booker (for himself and Mr. Sullivan) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
To prohibit Federal agencies from authorizing or facilitating commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone except in accordance with a Federal statute authorizing such action.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025
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Sec. 2. Prohibition on authorizing finfish aquaculture in the EEZ
(a) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal agency may issue any permit or take any other action to authorize or facilitate commercial finfish aquaculture operations in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the United States (as established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983), except in accordance with a Federal statute authorizing such action that is enacted after the date of the enactment of this Act.
(b) Definitions
In this section—
(1)
the term finfish—
(A)
an aquatic finfish in any stage of its life cycle; and
(B)
does not include amphibians, seaweeds or other algae, or invertebrates, including shellfish; and
(2)
the term commercial finfish aquaculture means an activity related to the propagation, rearing, or attempted propagation or rearing, of finfish in captivity or under positive control for commercial purposes.