48 



Environmentally safe testing of genetically engineered organisms 

 will allow assessment of their utility in aquaculture as well as any 

 ecological and genetic risk. 



Well-directed R&D, followed by effective extension activities, will 

 be crucial for realizing environmentally sustainable aquaculture. 

 Through the research and development and extension activities of 

 NMFS and Sea Grant, NOAA has the capability to promote envi- 

 ronmentally sound development of marine aquaculture. I urge the 

 committee to regard reauthorization as an opportunity to prioritize 

 environmental concerns in agency goals, and to provide appropriate 

 levels of support for relevant program areas. 



Mr. Chairman, I thank you for this opportunity to present my 



views. 



[The prepared statement of Dr. Hallerman follows:] 



Prepared Statement of Dr. Eric M. Hallerman 



Mr Chairman and members of the Committee, my name is Eric Hallerman. I am 

 an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fisheries and Wildlife Sciences at Vir- 

 ginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, where I carry out research teach- 

 ing and public outreach activities cegarding aquaculture. I have been involved in 

 aquaculture ince the late 1970s, and have published numerous scientific papers on 

 genetics in aquaculture. I have served as President of the Genetics Section of the 

 American Fisheries Society, on grant proposal review panels, and on research 

 prioritization panels concerning aquaculture. Mr. Chairman and members ot the 

 committee, I am honored and pleased to offer suggestions on how NOAA authonzing 

 legislation might be framed in order to promote marine aquaculture. I add that 1 

 offer my comments as an individual, and not as a representative of my mstitution. 



reauthorizing legislation for NOAA SHOULD INCLUDE SUPPORT FOR MARICULTURE 



U S per capita consumption of seafood products has increased 49 percent since 

 1960, and was 14.9 pounds in 1991 (Leahy 1993). However, over half of the most 

 important U.S. fisheries currently are harvested at or above sustainable ;evels (Na- 

 tional Marine Fisheries Service 1991). The United States imports 40 percent ol its 

 seafood (National Marine Fisheries Service 1993), which contnbutes over three bil- 

 lion dollars to our annual trade deficit (Leahy 1993). During the early years ol this 

 decade, the worid harvest of fishery products from the seas peaked at 99 million 

 metric tons, exceeding even a high estimate for sustainable yield (Robinson 1988) 

 and subsequently has declined. These factors give rise to a growing, unmet demand 



for fishery products. , ^ ^ , j 4. a 



Aquaculture can contribute significantly to the supply of fishery products. Aqua- 

 culture contributes approximately 16 percent by weight of the worid s seafood pro- 

 duction, although less than 10 percent in the United States (Leahy 1993). in addi- 

 tion to food products, aquaculture products include industrial materials, pharma- 

 ceuticals, energy, and bait fish. Aquaculture is a rapidly growing sector of American 

 agriculture. Beyond providing a healthful product, it provides employment and eo)- 

 nomic base to rural areas. Expansion of aquaculture serves the interests ol the 

 Amf*nc3.n O600I6 



Through the National Oceanic and Atomospheric Administration (NOAA), the De- 

 partment of Commerce administers programs which support the developnient of the 

 scientific, technical, and commercial bases of marine aquaculture N^AA is involved 

 in mariculture through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) and the Na- 

 tional Sea Grant Program (National Research Council 1992). NMFS involvements 

 include the operation of salmon hatcheries, research studies on culture of oysters 

 salmon and shrimp, dissemination of aquaculture information, and promotion ot 

 international markets for U.S. aquaculture products. Sea Grant, through its system 

 of research grants to universities and the Marine Advisory Service, has been respon- 

 sible for the support of research and extension activities on biological and techno- 

 logical aspects of production of marine, estuarine, and Great Lakes species. Ihese 

 programs have played an important part in the development of the U.S. aquaculture 



industry. . ^i «- r ;*„ 



Reauthorization of NOAA provides the opportunity to reexamine the eflicacy of its 

 marine aquaculture programs for advancing the goals of U.S. ocean policy^ Reau- 

 thorization provides the forum for discussing unmet needs and new opportunities 



