03-14-2007, 09:03 PM
On March 12, 2007, U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez announced that the Administration's National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 had been sent to Congress. The purpose of the 2007 Act is to create a regulatory framework that allows for safe and sustainable aquaculture operations for fish and shellfish in U.S. federal waters, three or more miles off the coast. The 2007 Act includes requirements to ensure that offshore aquaculture proceeds in an environmentally responsible manner that is consistent with stated policy to protect wild stocks and the quality of marine ecosystems and is compatible with other uses of the marine environment.
With an $8 billion seafood trade deficit, the United States is largely dependent on farmed seafood imported from other nations to meet domestic market demand. Last year, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization reported that almost half of global seafood production came from aquaculture. Currently, the United States imports 80% of its seafood and half of that is farmed. It is clear that additional domestic aquaculture can be an effective option to reduce the nation's dependence on seafood imports, provide jobs for economically depressed coastal communities, and increase regional food supply and security
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With an $8 billion seafood trade deficit, the United States is largely dependent on farmed seafood imported from other nations to meet domestic market demand. Last year, the United Nations' Food and Agriculture Organization reported that almost half of global seafood production came from aquaculture. Currently, the United States imports 80% of its seafood and half of that is farmed. It is clear that additional domestic aquaculture can be an effective option to reduce the nation's dependence on seafood imports, provide jobs for economically depressed coastal communities, and increase regional food supply and security
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