Economics 



Economic data 



Research and reporting would be accelerated on the relationship 

 between aquacultural products and the land, labor, capital, and 

 operating inputs required for production, including the 

 relationship between scale of operation and input requirements. 

 The ability to determine economic feasibility of culture operations 

 and to identify major cost factors in those operations would be 

 improved. The awareness of the industry concerning sources and 

 availability of investment capital through extension and technical 

 assistance efforts should be increased. 



Market development 



Markets for aquaculture products, including identification of 

 market barriers and opportunities would be examined and studies 

 expanded on marketing economics and new products development where 

 lack of markets and market barriers are restricting the industry. 



Information and Technical Assistance 



Extension education and information 



Improved information exchange would be enhanced by providing 

 increased extension activities. Other special emphasis would be 

 directed towards efforts to: 



o Gather, synthesize, and index all aquaculture materials of 

 research and education agencies on a continuing basis into 

 an on-line data base 



o Rewrite highly scientific and technical publications, as 

 applicable into publications that are readable by and 

 useful to aquaculturists at all levels 



o Produce bibliographies on various aspects of species 

 involved in aquaculture 



Technical assistance 



Rapid expansion of commercial aquaculture has resulted in large 

 demands for technical services. Appropriate staff will be provided 

 specialized training to keep pace with advances in technology. 



National Aquaculture Information System (NAIS) 



The NAL will provide leadership in establishing the NAIS in 

 cooperation with other Federal data systems. Initial efforts will 

 focus on the development of bibliographic files, translation 

 services, and selected directories. 



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