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“INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE ACT OF 2007” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the Extensions of Remarks section on pages E842-E843 on April 24, 2007.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE ACT OF 2007
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HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II
of west virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing by request the Administration's National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007. This bill would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement a regulatory system for offshore aquaculture in the United States Exclusive Economic Zone.
I commend Secretary Carlos Gutierrez for his leadership, and initiating the debate on aquaculture. While I do not agree with many provisions in this legislation, I think it is important for Congress to take a serious look at marine aquaculture and see if it is possible to establish a program that makes economic and environmental sense.
At the moment, there are no aquaculture projects in U.S. Federal waters, but there are successful farming operations onshore. In my state, West Virginians are successfully raising arctic char, a fish tasting similar to salmon.
The Department of Commerce believes aquaculture has the potential to meet our growing demand for seafood. The United States imports more than 80 percent of its seafood, and half of our imports are fish farmed. With a successful aquaculture program in place, the United States could reduce its $8 billion trade deficit in seafood, according to the recent report from the Marine Aquaculture Task Force. Additionally, aquaculture could help alleviate the overushing and exploitation of fisheries world wide.
The aquaculture industry claims the United States is technologically and economically ready to venture into offshore waters to farm fish. Done responsibly, with strict environmental standards, offshore aquaculture has the potential to address the growing demand for seafood, provide jobs, relieve pressure on some of our wild fish stocks, and perhaps even help to replenish some depleted fish stocks.
Again, I commend Secretary Gutierrez for his leadership and look forward to working with him to ensure that offshore aquaculture production occurs in a manner that is both economically and environmentally sustainable.
As we have heard from both national ocean commissions, the oceans are in trouble. We must be very careful that offshore aquaculture does not further jeopardize the health of our oceans in any way.
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