International Activities: The JSA will coordinate the exchange of 

 information with foreign nations and monitor bilateral programs to 

 assure that the United States receives maximum benefit from 

 information derived from these programs. 



Capital Requirements: Although lack of financing is not a 

 constraint to existing commercial aquaculture, it is for 

 entrepreneurs working with innovative culture systems or untested 

 species on a commercial basis. Therefore, while the JSA does not 

 find adequate justification for creating new Federal financing 

 programs, an effort will be made to educate the financial community 

 about aquaculture and to inform prospective aquaculture borrowers 

 about current funding sources. 



Regulatory Impacts: Several Federal regulatory program areas have 

 been identified by industry and the JSA as being of particular 

 importance. These include dredge and fill permits. National 

 pollutant discharge elimination system permits, drug and chemical 

 registration procedures, fish and shellfish health programs, and 

 restrictions on the movement of nonindigenous species. However, it 

 is clear that the bulk of regulations, permits, and licenses occur 

 at the State and local level. 



Although it is unreasonable to expect aquaculture to receive 

 special exemptions from environmental and health regulations, it is 

 not unreasonable to expect that aquaculture be given equity with 

 competing activities. 



The JSA will actively work with appropriate Federal regulatory 

 agencies to review problems associated with aquaculture, promote 

 public forums to conduct periodic assessments of progress in 

 achieving justifiable regulatory relief, and periodically make 

 available directories of Federal regulations affecting the 

 development and operation of commercial aquaculture. 



Departmental Responsibilities: P.L. 96-362 assigns broad 

 responsibilities in aquaculture to the USDA, DOC, and USDI , working 

 with and through the JSA. The three Departments agreed to broad 

 responsibilities in scientific and technical research, pilot 

 testing and demonstration, economics, and information and 

 technology assistance within existing programs. Expenditures in 

 aquaculture by the three Departments (FY 1982) were: USDA — $9.5 

 million; DOC— $8.3 million; and USDI— $4.5 million. 



Conclusions 



Aquaculture is a dynamic and growing segment of the American 

 economy. Tremendous strides in yields have been seen in the past 

 15 years. Giant corporations have joined the aquaculture field - 

 Con Agra, Ralston Purina, British Petroleum, and Campbell Soup, to 

 name a few. The JSA believes that aquaculture can and will 



