CHAPTER 5 

 RECOMMENDED PROGRAMS AND ACTIONS 



The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 requires that the development 

 plan include actions for both the public and private sectors to 

 take in implementing the plan. Industry, State, and university 

 roles are discussed. Federal actions discussed in this chapter are 

 based on existing programs and activities. 



Industry, State, And University Roles 



The National Aquaculture Act of 1980 states that the principal 

 responsibility for the development of commercial aquaculture in the 

 United States must rest with the private sector. The United States 

 aquaculture industry is represented by 1,100 catfish farms; 250 

 trout farms; 400 crawfish farms; 25 commercial salmon farms; over 

 500 oyster culture firms; 30 firms culturing clams, mussels, and 

 abalone; 15 U.S. -owned shrimp farming firms operating in Latin 

 America and the United States; 20 freshwater prawn firms 

 concentrated in Hawaii; and a number of individuals and firms who 

 have developed or are developing the culture of many new species. 

 Their role as commercial entrepreneurs is to apply available 

 aquaculture science and technology to the real-world problems of 

 operating commercially viable aquaculture ventures. Through their 

 ; ractical orientation and business acumen they carry research and 

 prototype aquaculture concepts through optimization and 

 cost-reduction processes in order to maximize their margin of 

 profit. 



Motivated by the needs and activities of the developing aquaculture 

 industry over the past decade, many States and universities have 

 established extensive research, extension, and teaching programs in 

 aquaculture. The total effort has resulted in significant 

 improvement in our understanding of all aspects of aquaculture. 



Some States, territories and Indian tribes, have active programs in 

 aquaculture development. Aquaculture extension programs are 

 provided as part of an existing agricultural Cooperative Extension 

 network. Research and development groups exist in a number of 

 States. In addition, aquaculture plans are included in the overall 

 water and land use policy planning of several States. In some 

 cases, a diversity of State agencies address issues of public 

 health, disease and pest control, aquatic animal imports and 

 exports, and the ecological aspects of aquaculture. 



The role of the academic community in the development of 

 aquaculture is to conduct programs in aquaculture science, 

 technology, and education in concert with State and Federal 

 laboratories. The academic community should be involved in 

 innovative approaches to aquaculture development through the 

 creation and dissemination of knowledge. Academia's role is to solve 



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