14 



I hasten to add and we want to emphasize that these are the 

 views of the industry that we picked up. We have not done the 

 audit work that would be necessary to either corroborate these 

 opinions, assess USDA's positions in response, or evaluate the pol- 

 icy or budgetary implications that they might suggest. 



We have appreciated our opportunity to work over the last eight 

 weeks or so in preparing the data to deliver today, and we would 

 be happy to answer any questions. 



Senator Daschle. Thank you very much, Mr. Robinson. And let 

 me just emphasize again how appreciative I was of the magnificent 

 work you have put into the research presentation you made at the 

 last subcommittee hearing. We are still talking about it, and I 

 want you to know it was really appreciated and I hope we see more 

 of it as you go through, as we are appreciative of the information 

 you just provided us. 



Senator Craig, the ranking member of this subcommittee, has ar- 

 rived, and I would be happy to yield to him if he has any opening 

 remarks he would wish to make. 



STATEMENT OF HON. LARRY E. CRAIG, A U.S. SENATOR 



FROM IDAHO. 



Senator Craig. Well, my apologies to all the panelists for run- 

 ning late. Mr. Chairman, let me thank you for holding this hearing. 

 I am proud to be an original cosponsor of the Akaka bill. I think 

 it is an important piece of legislation, driving us in the direction 

 that I think we want to go. I will take no further time, because in 

 your very important capacity as chair and your traditional style, 

 you are approaching this hearing just the way I love to see them, 

 information gathering with all the witnesses at the table. We will 

 put that work product together, make some refinements, and move 

 on with this legislation. 



For the record, Senator Cochran mentioned that 75 percent of 

 pond catfish are grown in Mississippi. Why would somebody from 

 Idaho be interested in aquaculture? Because 75 percent of the com- 

 mercial freshwater trout in America are grown in Idaho. So aqua- 

 culture is a very nice part of our agricultural economy. 



So if you have ever had a marvelous Idaho trout in a restaurant, 

 stuffed with crab or shrimp, that came from one of my trout farm- 

 ers in Idaho. Let the hearing go on. [Laughter.] 



Senator Daschle. Well, just for the record, in preparation for 

 this hearing, I learned that the Dakotas are now cornering the 

 tilapia market. 



Senator Craig. Yes. Marvelous. 



Senator Cochran. You have to have pretty warm water. 



Senator Daschle. I did not realize that. It is an indoor coopera- 

 tive for tilapia, as it would have to be in the Dakotas, beginning 

 this time of the year. I hear that it is our only market at this point. 

 But we are hoping to grow and take the leadership already shown 

 by Idaho and Mississippi, and certainly Hawaii. 



Let us begin with our other panelists. Mr. Joseph McCraren is 

 the executive director of the National Association of Aquaculture. 

 And he has come from West Virginia. I am delighted you are here. 



