Shellfish aquaculture gear that creates complex structure can increase the abundance and diversity of wild fishes relative to reference habitats devoid of vertical heterogeneity. Ongoing research programs using underwater action cameras in Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Washington state seek to quantify fish interactions with aquaculture gear. Using a synthesis of the existing literature, and regionally-relevant data from our partners, our program seeks to provide shellfish resource managers with an assessment of habitat provisioning by shellfish farms in the Northeast and Pacific Northwest regions. Observations of fish behavior in Connecticut suggest that cages provide food, shelter, refuge and other ecological services, much like natural structured habitat. Association of young-of-the-year fish with oyster cages across multiple research locations suggest that aquaculture gear may be utilized as nursery habitat by fish during the early life history stages. An assessment of data availability for finfish and invertebrates was conducted to identify opportunities to develop tools to aid consideration of habitat benefits into aquaculture permitting. We integrated existing methodologies for estimating growth and mortality parameters for fish species in order to estimate total production as an ecosystem service factor. We created a comparison of commonly observed species by region/state based on available data from our Northeast and Northwest Pacific research programs. When possible, we used bottom trawl survey data to determine age-at-length and length-weight relationships in order to estimate mortality parameters. Habitat maps were created from existing base maps of sediment type, bathymetry, and seabed characteristics. These maps serve as a baselayer for determining the effectiveness of aquaculture gear as habitat modifiers for productivity enhancement. Results from the synthesis and the regional research programs will be discussed, and data gaps identified. Information on region-scale variation in ecosystem service provisioning associated with shellfish aquaculture can aid resource managers in developing a permitting framework that includes consideration of environmental benefits in addition to potential impacts. A better understanding of how shellfish farming influences fish communities will increase social license for aquaculture among coastal communities.