This bill, known as the Supporting Equity for Aquaculture and Seafood Act or the SEAS Act, aims to enhance the Department of Agriculture's (USDA) support for the aquaculture and seafood industries. It broadly defines aquaculture as the controlled breeding, rearing, and harvesting of various aquatic organisms in diverse water environments. The legislation seeks to ensure these vital sectors receive equitable consideration and resources comparable to traditional land-based agriculture.

The Act mandates comprehensive reporting from the USDA, requiring annual reports on seafood and aquaculture purchases, promotion expenditures, and grants awarded to these industries. Additionally, a one-time report will evaluate the USDA's overall role, domestic seafood processing capacity, and the comparative access aquaculture producers have to USDA resources, including an assessment of environmental impacts and recommendations for best practices.

To promote equity, the bill directs the USDA to provide aquaculture producers with the same consideration as animal agriculture producers for grants and assistance, ensuring fair funding levels. It also mandates internal USDA education for Farm Service Agency employees on aquaculture eligibility and its role in U.S. agriculture. A department-wide memorandum will affirm aquaculture's importance and reiterate its eligibility for USDA programs, complemented by biennial conferences or webinars for ongoing education.

Furthermore, the legislation provides direct support by extending funding for Regional Aquaculture Centers with $30 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2030, capping indirect costs at 15 percent. It expands the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to include critical shellfish research, focusing on survival rates and resistance to environmental stressors. The bill also authorizes competitive grants of $10 million annually for fiscal years 2026-2030 to develop next-generation technologies for the seafood and aquaculture industries, aiming to reduce pollution and fuel usage. Finally, it directs the Federal Crop Insurance Corporation to research, develop, and establish a crop insurance policy specifically for aquaculture products.