Set of 12 recommendations address public perception, permitting, building partnerships and more
Portland, Ore. — December 16th, 2025 — The Oregon Aquaculture Association (OAA) released Oregon Aquaculture: Current Landscape and a Roadmap for Growth, a new report outlining key recommendations to strengthen and expand Oregon’s aquaculture industry.
As the aquaculture sector grows rapidly around the world, this roadmap, developed with support from Ecotrust and Oregon Sea Grant, highlights Oregon’s opportunity to diversify production, support habitat restoration, create jobs, and contribute to a more resilient regional food system.
“Oregon’s aquaculture sector is relatively small compared to its neighbors, centered mainly on coastal oyster farms and public salmon hatcheries. There is room to grow while creating co-benefits for nature and people,” says Jon Bonkoski, Ecotrust Vice President of Coastal Communities & Fisheries and OAA board member. The state also hosts a handful inland finfish producers (raising trout, sturgeon, and tilapia), along with one sea urchin ranching operation and one land-based seaweed farm. Despite its modest scale, Oregon’s abundant natural resources, strong research institutions, and collaborative culture provide a robust foundation for sustainable industry growth. OAA is well-positioned to help lead this progress in partnership with producers, communities, Tribes, and public agencies.
The roadmap presents 12 recommendations to advance the aquaculture sector, including strengthening producer representation, improving public understanding of aquaculture, deepening Tribal collaboration, streamlining permitting, advancing seaweed cultivation, promoting innovation, and expanding support for new and small producers.
Implementation will take place in phases as OAA collaborates with partners statewide to align resources and build consensus. “Broad engagement and coalition-building will be essential to growing a responsible and productive aquaculture sector in Oregon, and OAA is ready to take a leadership role,” said Randy Bentz, President of the Oregon Aquaculture Association and owner/operator of Blue Den Ranch.
The roadmap aligns with the goals of Governor Kotek’s recent Executive Order (25-26), which calls for greater climate resilience across Oregon’s working lands, waters, and communities. Aquaculture can help us meet these goals, presenting opportunities to steward Oregon’s waters while creating jobs and contributing to a resilient regional food system.
For media inquiries, contact: Kellen Parrish at kellen@oregonaquaculture.org; Megan Foucht at mfoucht@ecotrust.org; Jon Bonkoski at jbonkoski@ecotrust.org
About Oregon Aquaculture Association
The Oregon Aquaculture Association promotes aquatic animal, plant, and algae production and education to further expand the availability and knowledge of sustainably-raised, healthy, and nutritious consumer products while conserving Oregon’s natural resources.
About Ecotrust
At Ecotrust, we work in partnership toward the vision of a more just, prosperous, and climate-smart future. With more than 30 projects from California to Alaska, our approach focuses on impact at the intersections of equity, the economy, and the environment in pursuit of radical, practical change. We welcome you to join us at ecotrust.org.
About Oregon Sea Grant
Headquartered at Oregon State University since 1971, Oregon Sea Grant is one of 34 Sea Grant programs in the U.S. under the umbrella of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Oregon Sea Grant funds research and scholarships, supports coastal communities, provides marine education opportunities, and manages the public education wing of the Hatfield Marine Science Center in Newport.