The more cost efficient production of aquaculture products likely 

 to result from implementation of the NADP would enhance the 

 competitiveness of cultured fish in the market. 



Secondary Impacts 



Programs of this plan would have spillover effects. Some effects 

 would benefit society, while others might impose social costs. 



For example, since aquaculture generates additional economic 

 activity by augmenting fish stocks for commercial and sport 

 fisheries, the programs of this plan would tend to increase the 

 positive economic benefit to society. On the other hand, impacts 

 on land and water use could either enhance or detract from such 

 things as habitat and environmental esthetics or groundwater and 

 surface water quality and quantity. Likewise, the introduction of 

 nonindigenous organisms, genetic changes, and possible human 

 nutritional factors could have positive or negative economic 

 effects. An important secondary impact of this plan would be on 

 the commercial fisheries. For some species like catfish or trout, 

 there would likely be few economic effects. Almost all trout sold 

 commercially in the U.S. is farm-raised with the remainder 

 imported. The farm-raised catfish industry now dwarfs the wild 

 catfish fishery. Farm-raised catfish production sold to processors 

 totaled 200 million pounds in 1982, while 8.2 million pounds of 

 wild catfish was processed in 1981. 



Culture of oysters and hard clams would also likely have little 

 impact on their respective fisheries. U.S. production has declined 

 over the past two decades, primarily because of pollution, loss of 

 habitat, and disease. Also, like farm-raised catfish, cultured 

 oysters and hard clams are considered superior products. 



On the other hand, cultured shrimp and ocean-ranched salmon will 

 compete directly with shrimp and salmon from the commercial 

 fisheries. Cultured shrimp will also compete with imports. Shrimp 

 and salmon are the United States' most valuable fisheries, which 

 emphasizes potential benefits to be gained from shrimp and salmon 

 aquaculture. In short, the source that can meet consumer's 

 quantity and quality demands at the lowest price would likely gain 

 market share at the expense of the other sources. 



Salmon cultured by net-pen rearing are only 1 pound when harvested 

 and are sold as fresh or frozen pan-sized fish, competing directly 

 with rainbow trout. 



Pond-raised and wild-harvested crawfish also compete with each 

 other. Since most crawfish are marketed fresh, because they cannot 

 be stored, available supply will dictate prices. Thus, if 

 production of pond-raised crawfish increases, the major affect will 

 be to dampen price swings, both from year-to-year and within the 

 November-June harvest season. 



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