The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and state regulations for permitting aquaculture present significant challenges. At the core of this regulatory process is the requirement to use Best Available Science (BAS) and to meet the standards set forth by the Information Quality Act (IQA). The BAS principle requires agencies to use the most reliable and current scientific data in their decisions, especially when assessing environmental impacts. Meanwhile, the IQA focuses on ensuring the quality, accuracy, and integrity of all information used in government decision-making. The application of BAS is legally mandated, particularly in fields like environmental protection, health, and species conservation, to ensure agencies base decisions on the most up-to-date scientific evidence. The IQA applies broadly to all federal agencies, requiring them to follow internal data quality standards that ensure information accuracy and reliability. All agencies must align with these standards to issue reliable policies and regulations. Unfortunately, writers of NEPA documents need to be generalists due to the wide-ranging topics covered, yet each topic requires expert analysis and judgement. In addition, a significant challenge arises because peer-reviewed science and government publications that typically conform to BAS and IQA standards often do not align seamlessly with the needs of NEPA writers. This disconnect can complicate compliance, run up cost, and take significant time when preparing Environmental Impact Statements (EIS). To address this gap in other areas of government regulation, agencies frequently utilize Science Advice (SA) products—comprehensive reports developed by experts to synthesize scientific data according to IQA standards and the needs of the regulators. SA products are particularly valuable as they provide decision-makers and regulators with accurate, high-quality scientific analyses that align with regulatory requirements. However, the use of these products in areas like marine aquaculture remains underdeveloped, which hinders the efficiency of permitting processes. Developing more robust SA products that conform to legal and regulatory standards may prove essential in enhancing the speed and quality of producing NEPA documents.