Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act

Senate Bill

S. 2211

119th Congress

Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act

In Committee

Introduced:Jul 31, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Sheldon Whitehouse

D - RI

Cosponsors

5

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Summary

This bill aims to support and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in the United States. It would create a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to encourage aquaculture operations that improve food security and reduce environmental harm. The bill also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee to help develop policies and outreach on sustainable aquaculture.

Latest Action

Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

Introduced7/31/2025

StatusRead twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.

ChamberSenate

Data from Congress.gov

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Vote Prediction

Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act

This bill aims to support and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in the United States. It would create a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to encourage aquaculture operations that improve food security and reduce environment

Community Breakdown

Pass

0%

Fail

0%

0 predictions

This bill aims to support and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in the United States. It would create a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to encourage aquaculture operations that improve food security and reduce environmental harm. The bill also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee to help develop policies and outreach on sustainable aquaculture.

Bill Number: 2211
Introduced: 7/31/2025
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Policy Area: Agriculture and Food

Data from Congress.gov

AI-generated summary

Fact Sheet

Title: Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act
Bill Number: 2211
Sponsor: No sponsor
Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
Introduced: 7/31/2025
Summary: This bill aims to support and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in the United States. It would create a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to encourage aquaculture operations that improve food security and reduce environmental harm. The bill also establishes an Aq

Data from Congress.gov

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill aims to support and promote sustainable aquaculture practices in the United States. It would create a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to encourage aquaculture operations that improve food security and reduce environmental harm. The bill also establishes an Aquaculture Advisory Committee to help develop policies and outreach on sustainable aquaculture.

Last updated: 12/30/2025

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service summary

Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act or the SHELLS Act This bill directs the Department of Agriculture (USDA) to establish an Office of Aquaculture and an Aquaculture Advisory Committee. The term aquaculture means the propagation and rearing of aquatic species in controlled or selected environments, including ocean ranching (with exclusions). Specifically, the Office of Aquaculture must encourage and promote aquaculture operations that promote U.S. food security and limit adverse environmental effects. USDA must also establish a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee to advise USDA on (1) developing policies and outreach relating to sustainable aquaculture practices; and (2) the history, use, and preservation of indigenous and traditional aquaculture practices and ecological knowledge.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Creates a new Office of Aquaculture within the Department of Agriculture to promote sustainable aquaculture practices
Establishes a 14-member Aquaculture Advisory Committee to provide advice on sustainable aquaculture policies and outreach
Aims to boost U.S. food security and limit adverse environmental effects of aquaculture operations

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

If passed, this bill would directly impact the aquaculture industry in the United States, as well as coastal communities and consumers who rely on domestic seafood production. It could lead to new policies, investments, and programs to support more environmentally-friendly aquaculture practices, potentially changing how seafood is produced and distributed in the country.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Agriculture and Food

Related Subjects

Advisory bodies

Aquaculture

Congressional oversight

Department of Agriculture

Executive agency funding and structure

Higher education

Public-private cooperation

Seafood

State and local government operations

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

2211, 119th Congress (2025). "Sustaining Healthy Ecosystems, Livelihoods, and Local Seafood Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-s-2211

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