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Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023
3/6/2024, 4:45 AM
Summary of Bill HR 1461
The bill outlines several key provisions, including the establishment of a grant program to support the development of seaweed farms, the creation of a research and development fund to advance seaweed farming technologies, and the implementation of regulations to ensure the environmental sustainability of seaweed farming practices.
Additionally, the bill calls for the formation of a task force to study the potential impacts of seaweed farming on marine ecosystems and coastal communities, as well as to make recommendations for future policy decisions. Overall, the Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023 seeks to promote the growth of the seaweed farming industry in the United States in a responsible and sustainable manner, with the goal of harnessing the economic and environmental benefits that seaweed farming can provide.
Congressional Summary of HR 1461
Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023
This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to (1) establish the Indigenous Seaweed Farming Fund, (2) prepare a joint study of coastal seaweed farming, and (3) issue regulations addressing seaweed farming.
The Indigenous Seaweed Farming Fund must provide grants to tribes, Native villages, tribal reservations, and specified Native people to support coastal seaweed farming, including for creating and maintaining coastal seaweed farms, purchasing equipment, and identifying and mitigating adverse impacts.
The joint study must analyze best practices for coastal seaweed farming that maximize potential benefits and avoid adverse effects on the surrounding environment. Within one year of the publication of the joint study, USDA and NOAA must issue regulations that
- ensure that systems of coastal seaweed farming maximize potential benefits and avoid potential adverse effects on the marine ecosystem, wildlife, fisheries, and surrounding communities;
- establish evaluation metrics to measure the impact and benefits of coastal seaweed farming on the marine ecosystem and surrounding communities; and
- establish related monitoring and reporting requirements.
The bill also requires the Food and Drug Administration to report to Congress on recommendations for improving the regulation of seaweed for human consumption. The recommendations must focus on standards and testing methods to identify, address, and prevent contamination by bacteria, heavy metals, and pathogens.
