52 



been built on mangrove swamp areas. This has reduced or eliminated spawning and 

 nursery areas for many marine and estuarine species, in some cases, limiting the 

 availability of seed stock for the shrimp operation itself. Other wetland ecosystems, 

 particularly seagrass areas, also have been impacted. Siting of mariculture oper- 

 ations is a major determinant of the type and magnitude of environmental impacts 

 posed. 



THE ROLE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN PROMOTING ENVIRONMENTALLY SOUND 



MARINE AQUACULTURE 



Solutions to environmental concerns posed by marine aquaculture will require a 

 mix of approaches, including: wise siting of aquaculture operations, development of 

 appropriate operations management practices, application of new scientific knowl- 

 edge, and development of new technologies, as well as improved regulatory oversight 

 and improved puolic acceptance of the value of aquaculture. 



Targeted development of science and technology will play a key role in promoting 

 environmentally sound marine aquaculture. Reauthorization of NOAA provides the 

 opportunity to authorize targeted research and development. 



Against the background oT environmental concerns presented above, areas where 

 targeted R&D activity will enhance the sustainability of mariculture include the fol- 

 lowing: 



• Development of analytical techniques and computer models to simulate the en- 

 vironmental impact of aquaculture operations (Weston and Gowan 1988, Brune 

 1990) will allow improve facility siting and operations management. 



• Advances in aquaculture engineering will of fer a greater variety of culture sys- 

 tems 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, de- 

 creasing nutrient loadings due to aquaculture in sensitive ecosystems. 



• Development of improved disease diagnostic tools and vaccines will improve 

 yields and aecrease risks faced by aquaculture operations, 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 anti- 

 biotic 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 genetically modified organisms. 



• Development and commercialization of improved methods for producing repro- 

 ductively sterile aauaculture stocks will minimize genetic impacts oi cultured stocks, 

 especially genetically modified stocks, on wild stocks. 



• Environmentally safe testing of genetically modified organisms will allow as- 

 sessment of their utility in aquaculture as well as any ec6logical and genetic risk. 



I emphasize that this listing of examples is illustrative, but certainly not exhaus- 

 tive. The key point is that well directed R&D, followed by effective extension activi- 

 ties, will be key to realizing environmentally sustainable aquaculture. 



Through the research and development and extension activities of NMFS and Sea 

 Grant, NOAA has the capability to promote environmentally sound development of 

 marine aquaculture. Reauthorization provides the opportunity to prioritize environ- 

 mental concerns in agency goals and to provide appropriate levels of support for rel- 

 evant program areas. I urge the committee to take this opportunity to provide 

 NOAA wise direction to promote marine aquaculture while protecting our marine 

 environment. 



INTERAGENCY COORDINATION 



Aquaculture is an industry whose activities are overseen not only by the Depart- 

 ment of Commerce, but by a variety of federal agencies. Aquaculture development 

 is well served by effective inter-agency coordination. Reauthorization of the National 

 Aquaculture Act is addressed in S. 1288, which recently was reported from the Sen- 

 ate Agriculture Committee. The bill establishes federal leadersnip for promotion of 

 aquaculture under the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and authorizes co- 

 ordination of federal oversight under the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA). 

 A designee of the Secretary of Commerce, through his/her participation in JSA, en- 

 sures tnat federal actions in the aquaculture arena serve the economic development 

 and marine environmental protection interests of Department of Commerce pro- 

 grams, such as Sea Grant, the National Coastal Resources Research Institute, Small 

 Business Innovation Research, and the National Marine Fisheries Service. Because 



