Department of Energy 



DOE does not conduct any major activities in aquaculture. DOE's 

 few aquaculture studies have been done from points of view other 

 than food production. For example, research has identified 

 aquaculture as an activity that could use waste heat from power 

 stations. The DOE biomass program also includes aquaculture as it 

 relates to the production of matter that could be used for energy 

 conversion. 



Department of Health and Human Services 



The Public Health Service (PHS) has responsibilities and activities 

 concerning the safety of food for human consumption and 

 environmentally related diseases and disorders. The Food and Drug 

 Administration (FDA) of the PHS performs research and provides 

 technical assistance in aquaculture. Research areas include 

 determination of bioavailability of cadmium and lead in oysters. 

 FDA regional offices and the National Shellfish Sanitation Program 

 give technical assistance to the States. The National Institute of 

 Environmental Health Sciences of the National Institute of Health has 

 research interests in absorption and metabolism of toxic chemicals 

 by marine organisms. 



Environmental Protection Agency 



Some aquaculture systems may create waste products that are subject 

 to regulation and control under the National Pollutant Discharge 

 Elimination System (NPDES) . Effluent guidelines for the 

 aquaculture industry have not been fully promulgated. 



The Water Management Branch of EPA (Ada, Oklahoma) studies the use 

 of aquatic plants, wetlands, invertebrates, and finfish to produce 

 clean water. Municipal waste treatment systems incorporating 

 aquaculture processes can potentially qualify to receive 85 percent 

 desigrj and construction grants and 100 percent replacement or 

 modification grants. The Municipal Construction Grants Program is 

 developing design criteria for systems eligible for these grants. 

 Past research funding has promoted the use of thermal effluents for 

 aquaculture. 



The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act 

 administered by EPA requires registration of pesticides used in 

 aquaculture to protect the environment, the product, the 

 applicator, and the consumer. 



Farm Credit Administration 



FCA supervises and examines the banks and associations that make up 

 the Farm Credit System. These FCA institutions make loans on 

 commercial terms to farmers, ranchers, producers, and harvesters of 

 aquatic products, and to their cooperatives. 



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