Oyster growers harvest farmed shellfish from the Damariscotta River in Maine, USA.
Image credit: C. Katalinas / Maine Sea Grant / NOAA Fisheries.
For the first time since 1983, the United States is updating its National Aquaculture Development Plan — and has opened a 45-day window for public comments on the draft.
The National Science and Technology Council's Subcommittee on Aquaculture is inviting public feedback on the draft Overview of the National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP), which is comprised of three strategic documents.
Two of these, Strategic Plan to Enhance Regulatory Efficiency in Aquaculture and the National Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Research, were finalized in 2022.
The third document, the draft Strategic Plan for Aquaculture Economic Development, is now open for public comments until April 5, 2024.
Once all the strategic documents are finalized, they will form a comprehensive National Aquaculture Development Plan aimed at advancing aquaculture "to support public health and nutrition, resilient communities, a strong economy, and a healthy planet," NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture said.
The authors of the new plan acknowledge that the update has been a long time coming.
In the introduction to the draft NADP Overview, they note that, "While the National Aquaculture Act [of 1980] called for periodic updates of the NADP, a comprehensive update has not been completed until now."
"The original NADP drafted four decades ago does not capture the progress the U.S. aquaculture community has made to develop and adopt scientific advancements and sustainable aquaculture practices," they continue.
The updated NADP — including the 3 thematic plans on research planning, regulatory efficiency, and economic development — identifies "specific opportunities to support ongoing research, foster new partnerships, and increase both internal and external awareness of the benefits and risks of aquaculture."
Oyster farming at Alaska Shellfish Farms in Kachemak Bay, Alaska.
Credit: NOAA Fisheries.
In support of the ongoing development of aquaculture in the U.S., the updated NADP calls for collaborative actions among federal and state agencies, Tribes, universities, and industry stakeholders to develop and apply innovative scientific, technical, operational, and policy solutions.
The aim, the authors say, is to maximize aquaculture's benefits while reducing its ecological footprint and resolving conflicts among users of aquatic resources.
NOAA Fisheries said the new NADP aims to "strengthen U.S. commitment to food security, climate resilience, and the protection of threatened and endangered marine and freshwater species".
"In a changing climate, aquaculture is becoming increasingly important as a climate-smart and healthy means of food production. Seafood farming, if done responsibly—as it is in the United States—is one of the most environmentally sustainable ways to produce healthy food," NOAA said.
The Subcommittee on Aquaculture acts as a federal interagency group to boost the efficiency of aquaculture-related federal initiatives and includes members from various agencies such as the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Food and Drug Administration, and Environmental Protection Agency.
Comments on the plan can be sent to AquacultureEcoDev@usda.gov.
