Agriculture, transport and infrastructure

Executive Order 13921: Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth

President: Donald J. Trump

Directed agencies to streamline aquaculture permits, address illegal fishing and support domestic seafood production, subject to fisheries and environmental law.

Status: In effect. Is Executive Order 13921 still in effect? Yes. NOAA continues to carry out Executive Order 13921 through the Aquaculture Opportunity Area identification process. Its October 1, 2026 publication documents the latest public-input process under this order; identifying an area does not itself permit an aquaculture farm. See NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areas: Request for Information 2/3; NOAA Aquaculture Opportunity Areas.

What does Executive Order 13921 do?

EO 13921 directed agencies to review rules affecting commercial fishing and aquaculture, identify sites for aquaculture opportunity areas and coordinate permitting and trade work. Agency actions and permits still required their own procedures.

Later evidence reviewed September 24, 2026: NOAA published notice of its aquaculture opportunity area environmental-review process under EO 13921 and later recorded public scoping and atlas work. Planning is not a permit for a particular farm. NOAA aquaculture opportunity area timeline.

Administration position: The stated directions and policy are summarized from the signed order. See the official text for its precise legal terms.
SignedMay 7, 2020
IssuerPresident Donald J. Trump
TermFirst presidential term

Before and after

Before the order

Federal agencies managed fisheries and aquaculture under existing statutes.

After the order

NOAA published notice of its aquaculture opportunity area environmental-review process under EO 13921 and later recorded public scoping and atlas work. Planning is not a permit for a particular farm.

Who had to do what

Agency / officialWhat the signed order directedDeadline / timing
Secretary of CommerceSeek/support fishery council recommendations, review regulatory agenda, and report implementation; through NOAA propose port-state rules. Establish/support Seafood Trade Task Force and co-chair with USTR; identify aquaculture opportunity areas with consultations/public comment and complete environmental assessments; publish/update regulatory/grant guidance. Promote enforcement cooperation and prioritize training with State, HHS, and DHS; jointly assess/revise the aquaculture development plan with Interior and Agriculture, and consult on animal health.Council lists 180 days; implementation report 1 year then annually 2 years; rules 90 days; task force 30 days; first 2 areas 1 year then 2 annually 4 years; each EIS2 years; guidance 240 days/update 18 months; aquaculture assessment within 180 days and at least every 3 years thereafter; explanation within 15 days if no revision.
Regional Fishery Management CouncilsSubmit prioritized lawful burden-reduction/production recommendations with initiation proposals; consult on opportunity areas.Lists requested within 180 days; initiation proposals within 1 year
NOAALead qualifying offshore-EEZ aquaculture reviews, identify agency contacts, and carry projects through authorization; implement Commerce rulemaking/guidance.Proposed port-state rule 90 days; applicable review goal 2 years
Aquaculture lead agenciesPrepare/publicize permitting timetables and consolidate agency decisions into one record unless stated exceptions apply.Covered multiagency EIS reviews/authorization goal 2 years from notice to decision
Cooperating and participating agenciesCooperate, respond promptly, and join consolidated decision records unless stated exceptions apply.Covered review goal 2 years
Secretary of the Army / Assistant Secretary for Civil WorksConsult Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, DHS, EPA, other appropriate federal officials, and appropriate state officials; propose marine/coastal/EEZ finfish, seaweed, and multispecies nationwide permits and assess permits for other waters.Within 90 days
Secretary of StatePromote fisheries enforcement cooperation/partnerships and prioritize training/technical assistance; participate in Seafood Trade Task Force.No specific deadline stated
Secretary of Homeland SecurityPromote enforcement cooperation and training; consult on permits, opportunity areas, and seafood trade.No specific deadline stated
HHS SecretaryPrioritize fisheries training/technical assistance with State, Commerce, and DHS.No specific deadline stated
Secretary of the InteriorConsult on permitting/opportunity areas/animal health; with Agriculture/Commerce assess/revise aquaculture plan; participate in seafood trade. Any revisions address statutory elements, regulatory constraints, security of tenure, and possible permitting framework.Plan assessment 180 days then at least every 3 years; non-revision explanation 15 days
Secretary of AgricultureConsult on permits/opportunity areas; jointly assess/revise aquaculture plan; consider replacing animal health plan and update any replacement; participate in seafood trade. Any replacement animal-health plan includes aquaculture information and risk-based management.Aquaculture assessment 180 days/every 3 years; animal health decision 30 days, new plan 180 days, updates at least every 2 years
Secretary of DefenseConsult with Commerce on aquaculture opportunity areas; consider conflicts with military readiness.No specific deadline stated
EPA AdministratorConsult on nationwide permits and opportunity areas.No specific deadline stated
Joint Subcommittee on AquacultureConsult on aquaculture plan assessments/revisions.Initial 180-day assessment; subsequent assessments at least every 3 years
Interagency Seafood Trade Task ForceRecommend an export market access, technical barrier, and fair-access strategy to USTR.Within 90 days
US Trade Representative / Office of USTRCo-chair task force; with task force and Trade Policy Staff Committee submit seafood trade strategy through economic/domestic policy assistants.Within 90 days after recommendations
Trade Policy Staff CommitteeConsult on comprehensive interagency seafood trade strategy.For USTR submission

Source: Signed Federal Register text.

What happened next

EO 13921 signed; its Federal Register publication followed.

NOAA published notice of its aquaculture opportunity area environmental-review process under EO 13921 and later recorded public scoping and atlas work. Planning is not a permit for a particular farm.