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breed with wild fish stocks. Cultivated fish often difiier substantially fix)m wild 

 stocks, similar to the way that other domestic animals differ from wild ones, and 

 widespread interbreeding between cultivated and wild fish may alter the genetic 

 makeup of wild populations in significant, undesirable ways. Third, releases of cul- 

 tivated fish may encourage high levels of fishing. Since fishermen cannot easily dis- 

 tinguish wild and cultivated stocks, wild stocks as well as cultivated ones may be 

 depleted. Fourth, escape or released native or nonnative fish may introduce new po- 

 tentially devastating pathogens and parasites to wild fish populations. 



Aquaculture facilities can also be divisive within communities. Fish farms may be 

 regarded as coastline eyesores, particularly if they are not specifically designed to 

 be unobtrusive. Freshwater fish farms may divert large quantities of water from 

 streams and other water supplies. Fish farmers may try to exterminate predatory 

 mammals and birds, which are cherished by many people. In addition large, cor- 

 porate aquaculture facilities may provide employees low wages and little of the inde- 

 pendence to which fishermen are accustomed. 



The development of the aquaculture industry thus presents a challenge of reaping 

 this industry's benefits while avoiding environmental problems associated with 

 aquaculture. The Environmental Defense Fund believes strongly that injecting envi- 

 ronmental concerns and opportunities early in the development of aquaculture will 

 markedly increase the prospects for an economically and environmentally sustain- 

 able industry that enjoys strong public support. 



There are a number of ways in which federal aquaculture policy, could promote 

 the development of an environmentally sustainable aquaculture industry. For exam- 

 ple, federal support for targeted research to improve aquaculture feeds, so that 

 uneaten feed does not heavily pollute surrounding ecosystems with excess phos- 

 phorous, would help reduce the environmental impacts of aquaculture. Development 

 of domesticated aquaculture stocks of native fish species could improve aquaculture 

 yields and simultaneously reduce the temptation to cultivate nonnative fisn species, 

 which can be destructive to native ecosystems. 



In contrast, if environmental concerns are now ignored, environmentally destruc- 

 tive practices and technologies could become increasingly difficult to alter in the fu- 

 ture, as the industry grows and such practices and technologies become increasingly 

 widespread. Further development of the aquaculture industry without regard to en- 

 vironmental protection could lead to an erosion of public support for aquaculture be- 

 cause the industry would come to be viewed as polluting and thus undesirable. Such 

 views could in turn increase public controversy about the siting of aquaculture fa- 

 cilities. 



Congress now has an opportunity to pass aquaculture legislation that promotes 

 the development of an economically and environmentally sustainable aquaculture 

 industry. In the rest of this testimony we will discuss elements of aquaculture legis- 

 lation that would help Congress accomplish this goal. Our comments will refer to 

 the National Aquaculture Act of 1980, 16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq., and the National 

 Aquaculture Development, Research and Promotion Act (S. 1288), now being consid- 

 ered by the Senate. 



EMPHASIZING THE I.MPORTANCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 



The importance of developing aquaculture in an environmentally responsible, sus- 

 tainable manner should be emphasized in all appropriate sections oi aquaculture 

 legislation. Unfortunately, the environment is mentioned only infrequently in the 

 National Aquaculture Act of 1980 and in S. 1288. We recommend that language con- 

 cerning environmental protection be incorporated, at minimum, in the following sec- 

 tions of aquaculture legislation. 



Findings 



An additional finding be added to the Finding Section of the 1980 Act, 16 U.S.C. 

 2801(a), that "Incorporating environmental concerns in the development of aqua- 

 culture will enhance the prospects for an economically and environmentally sustain- 

 able industry." Environmental risks associated with aquaculture should also be 

 mentioned explicitly in the report that ultimately accompanies the Committee's bill 

 to the fioor. 



National Aquaculture Development Plan 



The National Aquaculture Development Plan, 16 U.S.C. 2803, should give greater 

 emphasis to environmental protection and to the development of sustainable aqua- 

 culture systems. The 1980 Act stipulates that the Plan should address water quality 

 management and use of waste products, 16 U.S.C. 2803(b)(3) (B) and (C), but does 

 not require the Plan to address directly other environmental concerns. This sub- 

 section should be amended to require the Plan to address the full range of environ- 



