40 



sessment of Technology and Opportunities for Marine Aquaculture in the United 

 States. 



First, the regulatory and permitting structures that govern marine aauaculture 

 at federal, state and municipal levels need to be reexamined, with complementary 

 views toward simplification and environmental protection. The Joint Subcommittee 

 on Aquaculture (JSA) should be charged with designing a streamlined planning and 

 permitting process for marine aquaculture activities emphasizing joint local, state 

 and federal coordination. A major accomplishment in the early days of the JSA was 

 its contract with the Aspen Corporation to analyze the regulatory structure for 

 aquaculture. The reports submitted to the JSA in 1983 were substantive and thor- 

 ou^; unfortunately, due to lack of appropriations, no actions were taken and the 

 reports are now far out of date. Similar studies should be undertaken as soon as 

 possible, but with a specific action plan in mind to streamline the regulatory maze. 

 At least one state has already adopted an effective one-stop permitting process for 

 aquaculture, and this should be examined as a possible model. Funding for the JSA 

 to undertake this activity could be provided, at least in part, by NOAA. 



Second, the Congress should designate marine aquaculture as a recognized use 

 under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act. The JSA should be given the re- 

 sponsibility for promoting the inclusion of marine aquaculture in the Coastal Zone 

 Management Act. In addition, Congress should review and revise the Lacey Act, 

 taking into account the requirements of modern aauaculture businesses. 



Third, NOAA should play a more proactive role in the advancement of marine 

 aquaculture in the US. While the US Department of Agriculture is clearly the lead 

 agency for aquaculture, the NRC committee recommended that NOAA take on spe- 

 cific leadership responsibilities for marine aquaculture. For example, the Committee 

 stated that the National Sea Grant College Program should "be charged with leader- 

 ship in suj^ort of research and extension programs on marine-aquaculture related 

 topics * * *^' Candidate research areas identified included the following: 



(a) environmentally safe technology, methods, and systems for culturing marine 

 species in the marine environment; 



(b) marine aquaculture technology that is synergistic with other uses of the sea; 



(c) life history and developmental biology of candidate species; 



(d) the socioeconomic dynamics of the marine aquaculture industry (e.g., effects 

 on local employment practices); 



(e) methods for addressing and resolving conflicts between marine aquaculture 

 and other competing users of the marine environment; 



(D comparative studies of state practices regarding the regulation and promotion 

 of marine aquaculture; and 



(g) alternative institutional and policy structures for managing marine aqua- 

 culture in other countries. 



The report further identified the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) as 

 the agency to take the lead regarding the potential use of aquaculture to produce 

 fish and shellfish for enhancement of marine fishery stocks. In this role, the commit- 

 tee suggested that NMFS develop a comprehensive national policy to direct marine 

 stocking efforts and consider the potential roles of the private sector in marine stock 

 enhancement. 



The recent NOAA Strategic Plan^ reflects these recommendations. Acceleration of 

 the growth of US aquaculture was included in the Plan as one of seven strategic 

 actions NOAA should take to build sustainable marine fisheries. The plan further 

 states that NOAA will specifically: 



'Toster the development of environmentally acceptable, cost-effective intensive 

 commercial aauaculture systems" and 



"Advance NOAA's fisheries enhancement programs through the development of 

 new hatchery rearing systems and the tailoring of candidate species for those sys- 

 tems, using biotechnology and other specific approaches. High priority areas include 

 programs to develop technology for culturing currently over-exploited species and 

 those in danger of over-exploitation, better oroodstocks, improved hatchery tech- 

 niques, enhanced growth of high-value species, improved disease resistance and 

 treatment, imp'-oved control of reproduction, techniques for the identification of cul- 

 tured stocks in the oceans, and understanding better the genetic consequences of en- 

 hancement." 



Similarly, a recent workshop on aquaculture in the southeastern US'* concluded 

 that NOAA should become the advocate for ocean aquaculture and develop policy 

 and cost-effective technologies to support aquaculture in Federal waters. It should 



3 NOAA. 1993. NOAA 1995-2005 Strategic Plan. 



■•NMFS. 1994. Report of the Workshop on Aquaculture in the Southeastern United States. 

 January 12, 1994. New Orleans, LA. 



