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U.S. Code as of:
01/19/04
Section 2801. Congressional findings, purpose, and policy
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1) The harvest of certain species of fish and shellfish
exceeds levels of optimum sustainable yield, thereby making it
more difficult to meet the increasing demand for aquatic food.
(2) To satisfy the domestic market for aquatic food, the United
States imports more than 50 per centum of its fish and shellfish,
but this dependence on imports adversely affects the national
balance of payments and contributes to the uncertainty of
supplies.
(3) Although aquaculture currently contributes approximately 13
percent of world seafood production, less than 6 percent of
current United States seafood production results from
aquaculture. Domestic aquacultural production, therefore, has the
potential for significant growth.
(4) Aquacultural production of aquatic plants can provide
sources of food, industrial materials, pharmaceuticals, and
energy, and can assist in the control and abatement of pollution.
(5) The rehabilitation and enhancement of fish and shellfish
resources are desirable applications of aquacultural technology.
(6) The principal responsibility for the development of
aquaculture in the United States must rest with the private
sector.
(7) Despite its potential, the development of aquaculture in
the United States has been inhibited by many scientific,
economic, legal, and production factors, such as inadequate
credit, diffused legal jurisdiction, the lack of management
information, the lack of supportive Government policies, and the
lack of reliable supplies of seed stock.
(8) Many areas of the United States are suitable for
aquaculture, but are subject to land-use or water-use management
policies that do not adequately consider the potential for
aquaculture and may inhibit the development of aquaculture.
(b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote aquaculture in the
United States by -
(1) declaring a national aquaculture policy;
(2) establishing and implementing a national aquaculture
development plan;
(3) establishing the Department of Agriculture as the lead
Federal agency with respect to the coordination and dissemination
of national aquaculture information by designating the Secretary
of Agriculture as the permanent chairman of the coordinating
group and by establishing a National Aquaculture Information
Center within the Department of Agriculture; and
(4) encouraging aquaculture activities and programs in both the
public and private sectors of the economy;
that will result in increased aquacultural production, the
coordination of domestic aquaculture efforts, the conservation and
enhancement of aquatic resources, the creation of new industries
and job opportunities, and other national benefits.
(c) Policy
Congress declares that aquaculture has the potential for reducing
the United States trade deficit in fisheries products, for
augmenting existing commercial and recreational fisheries and for
producing other renewable resources, thereby assisting the United
States in meeting its future food needs and contributing to the
solution of world resource problems. It is, therefore, in the
national interest, and it is the national policy, to encourage the
development of aquaculture in the United States.
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