Chairman Wise noted that an individual had asked to have the issue of federal legislation on offshore aquaculture (i.e., in the EEZ) brought to the Council's attention.  He distributed information describing the major provisions of this legislation, the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 (H.R. 2010).  He briefly described the history of federal involvement in aquaculture and the evolution in responsibilities that have been delegated to NOAA/NMFS and the Department of Agriculture for aquaculture development in the United States.  The subject legislation follows on the release of several reports, including one issued by NMFS, "The Rationale for a New Initiative in Marine Aquaculture."  That report highlighted, especially, the continued opportunities for development of aquaculture in the EEZ as well as the constraints to this development.  One of these constraints in the lack of an existing regulatory framework within which proposals to undertake aquaculture in offshore waters would be initiated, reviewed, approved or denied and, if approved, monitored.  H.R. 2010 is designed to make good this deficiency, directing and authorizing funding for the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, parent agency of NOAA/NMFS to:

• issue offshore aquaculture permits
• establish environmental requirements for offshore aquaculture operations
• develop, collaboratively with other pertinent federal agencies a permitting process for aquaculture in the EEZ
• exempt offshore aquaculture from wild harvest-directed fishery regulations
• set up an offshore aquaculture R&D program

Councilor Karen Rivara, a commercial aquaculturist, stated that the East End Shellfish Growers Association has been trying for years to have the US Department of Agriculture given clear responsibility for aquaculture and to move forward with assistance to the industry.  She questioned the wisdom of the finding that offshore waters are ripe for aquaculture development.  Most shellfish species could not be economically cultured offshore.  She noted that the cultivation of bivalve shellfish (clams, mussels, oysters) is beneficial to the estuarine environment, where these species are a part of the natural food web.  Mr. Richard Wilson expressed concern that large-scale offshore aquaculture development would eventually seriously interfere with commercial fisheries also operating in these areas.  Chairman Wise will keep the Council informed of the fate of this legislation.

 

Page last modified Wednesday, October 31, 2007 by George E. Carroll