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mental concerns raised by aquaculture. In addition to water quality management 

 and use of waste products the Plan should address the following: (1) conservation 

 of genetic resources, including methods to minimize genetic introgression (mixing) 

 of cultured fish with wild fish stocks; (2) any potential ecological or economic harm 

 from introductions of exotic species resulting from aquaculture activities; (3) fresh- 

 water diversion impacts on in-stream fiows; (4) visual pollution, and (5) impacts 

 from predator control measures. 



The Secretaries of Commerce, Interior, and Agriculture are currently required 

 under the 1980 Act to "undertake a continuing assessment of aquaculture in the 

 United States." 16 U.S.C. 2803(e). Environmental protection is not among the six 

 activities that are named as components of the continuing assessment. The 1980 Act 

 should be amended to add a seventh component, "the identification of steps that 

 could be taken to make aquacultural practices compatible with environmental pro- 

 tection." 



Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture 



The list of purposes and functions of the White House Office of Science and Tech- 

 nology Policy's Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture, which coordinates national ac- 

 tivities regarding aquaculture, does not now refer to the environmental impacts of 

 aquaculture. 16 U.S.C. 2805. We urge that this list be broadened to include a sec- 

 tion stating that, "in each of its other functions and activities, [the Subcommittee 

 shall] include the explicit consideration of the environmental impacts of aquaculture 

 and the need for additional research to better understand and to develop methods 

 for mitigating the environmental impacts of aquaculture." 



Aquaculture Education 



The Aquaculture Education section in S. 1288 should be revised to emphasize the 

 importance of education concerning environmentally sound management of aqua- 

 culture systems. For example, the bill could include a provision stating that edu- 

 cation grants will be given priority if they go to aquaculture learning centers that 

 "foster understanding and awareness of the environmental implications of aqua- 

 culture and research into sustainable aquaculture practices." 



International Aquaculture Information and Data Collection 



S. 1288 would amend the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, 7. U.S.C. 5692, to au- 

 thorize the Secretary of Agriculture to collect, analyze, and disseminate economic in- 

 formation and data concerning international aquaculture. We support this amend- 

 ment, but urge that it be broadened to include environmental as well as economic 

 information. Some aquaculture facilities abroad have been extremely destructive to 

 the environment. For example, in some tropical areas mangrove swamps have been 

 destroyed to create shrimp farms, resulting in the loss of estuary areas vital to fish 

 reproduction. Collection of environmental as well as economic information would en- 

 able a fuller understanding and analysis of the implications of aquaculture abroad 

 and inform the development of environmentally sound aquaculture facilities in the 

 United States. 



ROLES OF FEDERAL AGENCIES 



Shared Leadership 



The Secretary of Commerce, Secretary of Interior, and Secretary of Agriculture 

 should continue to share responsibilities for aquaculture. In contrast, S. 1288 would 

 greatly expand the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA's) role as a lead agency 

 to include "the development, implementation, promotion, and coordination of na- 

 tional policy and programs for private aquaculture," and responsibility for resolving 

 interagency confiict. Sees. 2(bK4) and 7(e). 



Transferring from the Departments of Commerce and Interior to USDA such 

 broad leadership powers, as provided for in S. 1288, would be a poor idea. We antici- 

 pate that environmental protection will be a major focus of p)olicy development for 

 aquaculture. USDA has a poor track record for environmental protection, especially 

 when tradeoffs must be made between agricultural and environmental interests. 

 The Department of Commerce, through the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Ad- 

 ministration, and the Department of the Interior, have traditionally shown far 

 stronger interest in integrating environmental protection with economic develop- 

 ment. It is vital that these two agencies, "with their considerable, longstanding ex- 

 pertise on fisheries issues, continue to share with USDA leadership in establishing 

 national policies and programs for aquaculture. 



