43 



mandatory. Permitting must be streamlined. CZM should be en- 

 couraged to establish aquaculture as a preferred use for coastal 

 areas. Perhaps even regional zones for aquaculture could be estab- 

 lished. States need incentives to develop the necessary policies and 

 procedures to encourage aquaculture. 



Thank you very much. 



[The prepared statement of Mr. Garrison follows:] 



PREPARED Statement of Rob Garrison 



Good Morning, and thank you for ofTering me the opportunity to speak with you 

 today. 



I am the director of NREF, the Nantucket Research and Education Foundation. 

 We are a non-profit organization involved in aquaculture development and marine 

 research and education programs. The programs are joint efforts with Towns, uni- 

 versities, research institutions, scientists, educators, and private individuals. 



NREF operates the Nantucket Marine Laboratory, a shellfish hatchery, aqua- 

 culture, research and education facility on Nantucket Island. The Marine Lab is the 

 result of an innovative publiclprivate venture which involved the Town of Nan- 

 tucket, a private commercial shellfish firm and NREF. Seed money provided by the 

 Town combined with private business to build this facility. After two years of con- 

 struction and development, the Lab is now operated by NREF with some Town sup- 

 port. Shellfish seed are produced for enhancement of public fisheries, our aqua- 

 culture development program, and to be sold to private aquaculture businesses. 

 Other programs benefit the public, students, industry and the environment. Town 

 government has reduced its involvement, but accomplished its original public goals. 



With the cooperation of the Town we have designed and implemented the Nan- 

 tucket Aquaculture Program. This began last year with state community develop- 

 ment funding and is expanding this year with funding obtained through NOAA. The 

 Nantucket Program arose out of the need to maintain our commercial shellfisheries, 

 protect natural resources, and develop aquaculture as an environmentally sound 

 business. The program provides training in shellfish hatchery methods, water qual- 

 ity analysis, field grow-out of shellfish, and business start-up. Trainees are provided 

 with deed shellfish, the necessary materials, and space for grow-out. When the 

 shellfish reach the size of approximately 1 inch, 50 percent are returned to the 

 Town to augment natural populations, the remaining 50 percent are ongrown by the 

 trainee to be sold when market ready. A research component investigates establish- 

 ing a genetic marker for the bay scallop so that enhancement efforts can be tracked 

 in the field to gauge efTectiveness. Additionally, curriculum is being developed for 

 other communities and high school aquaculture programs. 



This program will expand the economic base of Nantucket, enhance natural sets 

 of shellfish for both recreational and commercial benefit, provide the Town with 

 much needed labor for its propagation and water quality programs, and eventually 

 establish shellfishing on Nantucket as a full-time, viable income for as many per- 

 sons who choose this career as possible. On Nantucket this could be 200-400 fami- 

 lies or 25 percent of the year round population. Commercial bay scallop fishermen 

 are the targeted clientele. Combining aquaculture development with fisheries en- 

 hancement enlisted the support of the public as well as tne fishermen (previously 

 the most vocal opponents of aquaculture). Marine aquaculture is capital intensive 

 and site specific. Several years are needed for establishment of a successful project. 

 This program gives fishermen and others the opportunity to start an aquaculture 

 business. It supports the effort with research and development programs. And it is 

 designed to be self sufficient after several years. As the aquaculture ventures are 

 commercialized, the initial project is expanded to economically viable levels and 

 thus supports the seed producing and research facility. Enhancement continues as 

 with the original program and can be expanded along with the aquaculture. 



Viewed as a model, the Nantucket Aquaculture Program can be expanded to other 

 species and communities. Coastal communities from Maine to the Chesapeake have 

 expressed interest in the program. New Bedford scallopers and the Gloucester com- 

 munity want to establish pilot programs for sea scallop aquaculture and develop- 

 ment efforts for groundfish aquaculture and enhancement. We feel the combination 

 of aquaculture and fishenes resource enhancement can play a major role in alleviat- 

 ing tne problems resulting from the decline of fisheries in the Northeast. 



NOAA programs caii provide seed money for development projects. Projects should 

 be structured to take advantage of both public and private resources. Initial 

 Jevelopment activities can be undertaken jointly and on a small scale. As commer- 



