36 



to be developed with Federal research programs such as those provided to the 

 shrimp industry. In contrast to the rest of the world, the United States invested $25 

 million over the past several years in research and development technologies, prod- 

 ucts, and services essential to profitable and sustainable shrimp farming. This has 

 resulted in a 140-percent increase in production in the U.S. shrimp farming indus- 

 try. This increase was achieved despite comparative disadvantages inherent to the 

 United States like competing uses of scarce coastal resources. This example, can be 

 duplicated in other types of marine aquaculture involving fish, feeds, and other 

 products such as pharmaceutical. The United States should continue to develop 

 these technologies, products, and services, and transfer these technologies to other 

 end-users around the world. 



We appreciate the opportunity to testify on behalf of this important legislation. 



Senator Kerry. Thank you very much, Mr. Dill. Thanks for keep- 

 ing your views tight like that. I appreciate it. Dr. Sandifer. 



STATEMENT OF DR. PAUL A. SANDIFER, DIRECTOR, MARINE 

 DIVISION, SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RE- 

 SOURCES 



Dr. Sandifer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. 



My name is Paul Sandifer and I am director of the Marine Re- 

 sources Division of the South Carolina Department of Natural Re- 

 sources. Our facilities include the Waddell Mariculture Center, 

 which is among the most significant marine aquaculture experi- 

 ment stations in the country, and personally I have over 20 years' 

 experience in research, development, extension, and education re- 

 lated to marine aquaculture. 



Today in the United States fresh-water aquaculture accounts for 

 nearly three-quarters of total U.S. aquaculture production. Thus, 

 coastal aquaculture itself is rather small, yet most people consider 

 it quite vital since the importation of marine products make up 

 such a huge portion of our fisheries deficit. 



Two years ago a committee of the prestigious National Research 

 Council concluded that a number of benefits would accrue to the 

 United States via the development of a "economically viable, tech- 

 nologically advanced and environmentally sensitive healthy marine 

 aquaculture industry" — and all of that is included in their report. 

 However, despite the importance of marine aquaculture to the Na- 

 tion, Federal efforts to nurture aquaculture development have 

 largely failed to keep pace with needs. 



Nevertheless, the good news from a recent survey of coastal State 

 aquaculture coordinators was that, despite its many problems, ma- 

 rine aquaculture is alive and broadly distributed, with some activi- 

 ties taking place in more than 80 percent of coastal States and ter- 

 ritories. The bad news is that coastal aquaculture clearly is not 

 well. Only 31 percent of the States reported moderate growth, 42 

 percent reported very slow growth, and 27 percent reported no 

 growth at all. If something is not done to improve its growth rate, 

 marine aquaculture is going to remain a very small industry in this 

 country for years to come. 



The most significant impediments, identified in this survey, to 

 marine aquaculture development were permitting. No. 1; burden- 

 some regulations. No. 2; competing users of land and water. No. 3; 

 then inadequate financial resources and lack of financial incen- 

 tives. According to the survey respondents, the most important 

 thing government could do to enhance aquaculture development 

 was, right off the bat, simplify permitting. And, second, provide fi- 



