 |
Commercial Fishingnews, events, and other information for the commercial fishing, aquaculture, and seafood industries |
 |
Article Categories
By
Published: February 15, 2011
Print
Email
On February 9, 2011, the Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released complementary draft national aquaculture policies. The public is invited to comment on both draft policies for the next 60 days.
“Americans love seafood, and we consume approximately 5 billion pounds of it each year—a significant portion of which are imports. In fact, our current trade deficit is approximately $9 billion,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Supporting the U.S. aquaculture industry will encourage economic growth and employment opportunities at home, support exports to global markets, and spur new innovations in technology to support the industry.”
Aquaculture plays a significant and growing role in global food production. Currently, nearly half the fish consumed by people is produced by aquaculture, and a significant portion of future increases in the global seafood supply will come from aquaculture.
In the U.S., some 84 percent of the seafood Americans eat is imported, and about half of those imports are aquaculture products. The domestic aquaculture industry supplies only about 5 percent of the seafood Americans consume.
According to officials, the aquaculture policies will benefit the industry by outlining how NOAA plans to fund research into innovative aquaculture technologies, work with partners to create job initiatives that encourage the growth of the industry, and grant access to favorable sites for aquaculture facilities.
In the last decade, American expertise and innovation played a significant role in the development of aquaculture in foreign countries. Once they are final, the Commerce and NOAA policies will promote a sustainable industry in the U.S., encouraging Americans to apply their ingenuity at home.
“If done wisely, aquaculture can complement wild fisheries while contributing to healthy oceans and coastal economies,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “As we rebuild wild fish populations, we recognize the world’s demand for safe, healthy seafood will continue to grow. Sustainable aquaculture increases our country’s food security.”
The draft Commerce Department policy supports the development of sustainable aquaculture within the context of the key Commerce goals of encouraging economic growth and employment opportunities in the United States.
Commerce and NOAA are accepting comments on the draft policies through April 11. Directions for submitting comments online are at http://aquaculture.noaa.gov.
Comments also may be submitted:
* By fax to 301-713-9108 (Attn: Susan Bunsick)
* By mail to:
NOAA Aquaculture Program
Attn: Public Comment
1315 East West Highway
SSMC3, Mail Code: F
13th Floor, Room 13152
Silver Spring, MD 20910
After the submitted comments have been reviewed, Commerce and NOAA will issue final national aquaculture policies.
source: NOAA press release
Submit Article
Published: February 15, 2011
Print
EmailOn February 9, 2011, the Department of Commerce and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) released complementary draft national aquaculture policies. The public is invited to comment on both draft policies for the next 60 days.
“Americans love seafood, and we consume approximately 5 billion pounds of it each year—a significant portion of which are imports. In fact, our current trade deficit is approximately $9 billion,” Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said. “Supporting the U.S. aquaculture industry will encourage economic growth and employment opportunities at home, support exports to global markets, and spur new innovations in technology to support the industry.”
Aquaculture plays a significant and growing role in global food production. Currently, nearly half the fish consumed by people is produced by aquaculture, and a significant portion of future increases in the global seafood supply will come from aquaculture.
In the U.S., some 84 percent of the seafood Americans eat is imported, and about half of those imports are aquaculture products. The domestic aquaculture industry supplies only about 5 percent of the seafood Americans consume.
According to officials, the aquaculture policies will benefit the industry by outlining how NOAA plans to fund research into innovative aquaculture technologies, work with partners to create job initiatives that encourage the growth of the industry, and grant access to favorable sites for aquaculture facilities.
In the last decade, American expertise and innovation played a significant role in the development of aquaculture in foreign countries. Once they are final, the Commerce and NOAA policies will promote a sustainable industry in the U.S., encouraging Americans to apply their ingenuity at home.
“If done wisely, aquaculture can complement wild fisheries while contributing to healthy oceans and coastal economies,” said Jane Lubchenco, Ph.D., under secretary of commerce for oceans and atmosphere and NOAA administrator. “As we rebuild wild fish populations, we recognize the world’s demand for safe, healthy seafood will continue to grow. Sustainable aquaculture increases our country’s food security.”
The draft Commerce Department policy supports the development of sustainable aquaculture within the context of the key Commerce goals of encouraging economic growth and employment opportunities in the United States.
Commerce and NOAA are accepting comments on the draft policies through April 11. Directions for submitting comments online are at http://aquaculture.noaa.gov.
Comments also may be submitted:
* By fax to 301-713-9108 (Attn: Susan Bunsick)
* By mail to:
NOAA Aquaculture Program
Attn: Public Comment
1315 East West Highway
SSMC3, Mail Code: F
13th Floor, Room 13152
Silver Spring, MD 20910
After the submitted comments have been reviewed, Commerce and NOAA will issue final national aquaculture policies.
source: NOAA press release
Submit Article