The per capita consumption of aquatic foods in the United States 

 has increased by almost 50 percent since 1960. It is projected to 

 double by the year 2020. The National Aquaculture Development, 

 Commercialization and Promotion Act would recognize aquaculture 

 as a form of agriculture and define cultivated aquatic animals, 

 plants and microorganisms and their products as agricultural live- 

 stock, crops and commodities. 



The act would require the Secretary of Agriculture to update the 

 national aquaculture plan proposed under the Aquaculture Devel- 

 opment Act of 1980. In addition, it would reauthorize the aqua- 

 culture commercialization, research, and education programs, and 

 provide disaster assistance for aquaculture farmers. 



We are fortunate to have with us this afternoon six witnesses 

 who will provide testimony on the current status of aquaculture 

 programs and the impact of the proposed act on the aquaculture 

 industry. Our first panel of witnesses consists of Dr. Hank Parker, 

 director of the USDA Office of Aquaculture and Mr. Robert Robin- 

 son of the General Accounting Office. 



Dr. Parker will report on the comments of the various agencies 

 in the Agriculture Department involved in aquaculture programs 

 on this bill. And Mr. Robinson will present results of the GAO's re- 

 cent investigation of the status of aquaculture programs in com- 

 parison to other crops in the availability of credit for aquaculture 

 farmers. 1 



We are also pleased to welcome representatives of four aqua- 

 culture producer groups. They are Mr. Joseph McCraren of the Na- 

 tional Association of Aquaculture, Mr. Roy Martin of the National 

 Aquaculture Council, Mr. Hugh Warren of the Catfish Farmers of 

 America and Mr. Jim Zimmerman of the Washington Fish Growers 

 Association. They will give us the industry and producer perspec- 

 tives regarding aquaculture. 



We appreciate the willingness of all of the witnesses to come and 

 testify before this subcommittee. The chairman of the full commit- 

 tee has asked that we keep the record open for 30 days, which we 

 will do, for additional comments, statements and answers to ques- 

 tions pertaining to the issue this afternoon. 



Let me call upon my colleagues, two people that have far more 

 experience and expertise in this area than I do. I am anxious to 

 learn from the witnesses, but I learn from both of them on a daily 

 basis and I am delighted they could be with us this afternoon. I 

 have already made reference to my colleague from Hawaii. Let me 

 call upon my colleague from Mississippi for his comments at this 

 time. 



STATEMENT OF HON. THAD COCHRAN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM 



MISSISSIPPI 



Senator Cochran. Mr. Chairman, thank you very much for your 

 courtesy in recognizing me. As we all know, the aquaculture indus- 

 try is very important in my State of Mississippi. And I am very 

 glad to Hugh Warren from our State is here today to speak on be- 

 half of the Catfish Farmers of America. 



1 Retained in Committee files. 



