Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023

The Coastal Seaweed Farm Act of 2023 requires the Secretaries of Agriculture and Commerce to conduct a two-year study on coastal seaweed farming's environmental, economic, and community impacts, including best practices for sustainability, ecosystem protection, and consultation with Indigenous groups. It establishes an Indigenous Seaweed Farming Fund to provide grants for seaweed farming projects by federally recognized Tribes, Native entities, and Indigenous communities, with restrictions to prevent harm to commercial fisheries. The bill also mandates regulations to ensure seaweed farming operations maximize marine ecosystem benefits while minimizing adverse effects, and allocates $3 million annually for the study and regulations, plus $20 million annually for the grant program. This legislation directly affects Tribal communities, coastal ecosystems, and future seaweed farming operations through concrete policy requirements.