47 



Antibiotics may be added to fish feeds to reduce mortality fi^om 

 bacterial fish diseases. Concerns stem ft-om development of drug-re- 

 sistant strains of bacteria, accumulation of antibiotics in marine 

 sediments, accumulation of antibiotics in fish and shellfish, and 

 possible impacts on human consumers of antibiotic residues in fish 

 and shellfish. Authorization of research on drug-resistant bacterial 

 strains and on food safety of aquaculture products would be well 

 justified. 



Large numbers of individuals escape from certain types of aqua- 

 culture systems. In freshwater ecosystems, the ecological impacts of 

 cultured salmonids on wild stocks have become well recognized. In 

 estuarine and marine systems, understanding of ecological inter- 

 actions among cultured and wild stocks is quite limited. The ge- 

 netic implications of cultured stocks and wild stocks has become a 

 contentious issue, especially in the Pacific Northwest. Authoriza- 

 tion might be provided for the research needed in these areas. 



The development of genetically engineered aquatic organisms 

 and their potential use in aquaculture complicate assessment of ef- 

 fects of cultured stocks on wild stocks. Programs encouraging risk 

 assessment while promoting development of genetically modified 

 aquatic organisms will be critical in addressing this gap in knowl- 

 edge. Suitable language could be incorporated in the NOAA reau- 

 thorization bill or in the bill for the Marine Biotechnology Invest- 

 ment Act. 



Targeted development of science and technology will pay a key 

 role in promoting environmentally sound marine aquaculture. 

 Areas where targeted R&D activity will enhance the sustainability 

 of mariculture include the following: 



Development of analytical techniques and computer models to 

 simulate the environmental impact of aquaculture operations will 

 allow improved facility siting and operations management; 



Advances in aquaculture engineering will offer a greater variety 

 of culture systems in terms of siting possibilities, waste treatment 

 or removal, and water and feed delivery to minimize environmental 

 impacts; 



Reformulation of aquaculture feeds to improve digestibility of 

 phosphorus will allow nutritional needs to be met while decreasing 

 total phosphorus content, decreasing nutrient loadings due to aqua- 

 culture in sensitive ecosystems; 



Development of improved disease diagnostic tools and vaccines 

 will improve yields and decrease risks faced by aquaculture oper- 

 ations, while decreasing possible impacts of aquaculture on wild 

 stocks; 



Approval of additional therapeutics for aquaculture species would 

 increase yield and decrease the reliance on particular antibiotics, 

 decreasing concerns about antibiotic resistance; 



Development of domesticated aquaculture stocks will improve 

 yield, decrease reliance on collecting seed stock from wild sources, 

 and decrease the attractiveness of culturing exotic species or ge- 

 netically engineered organisms; 



Development and commercialization of improved methods for 

 producing reproductively sterile aquaculture stocks will minimize 

 genetic impacts of cultured stocks, especially genetically engineered 

 stocks, on wild stocks; and 



