Courtesy of NAA:
The National Aquaculture Association (NAA) has recommended specific actions to address a variety significant, priority issues for the next administration of the federal Executive and Legislative branches. These issues include, but are not limited to, the Commercial Aquaculture Health Program Standards (CAHPS), National Aquaculture Act, aquaculture research and extension, offshore marine aquaculture, Lacey Act, Endangered Species Act, and federal stakeholder advisory committees.
The NAA strives to provide a unified national voice for aquaculture that ensures its sustainability, protects its profitability, and encourages its development in an environmentally responsible manner. Aquaculture is a very diverse agricultural segment in the variety of species and production systems that US commercial aquaculturists utilize to produce high-quality live and processed products for a large number of international, national, regional or local markets as food, bait, ornamental, or biocontrol. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes over 3,000 farms with a farm-gate income of $1.1 billion. The majority of these farms are small and rurally or coastally located.
As a consequence farmer needs are as diverse as U.S. aquaculture. And while the Recommendations are very specific priorities, the NAA will continue to aggressively address issues or programs related to aquatic animal health, food safety, water quality and quantity, harmful algal blooms, depredating wildlife, ocean acidification, crop insurance, invasive species and other critical issues.
For a copy of U.S. Aquaculture in the 21st Century: Recommendations for the Next Generation, please contact the NAA office at 850-216-2400 or naa@thenaa.net.
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