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Statement of Need: Demand for protein is increasing in the United States and commercial wild-capture fisheries will not likely be adequate to meet this growing demand. Aquaculture is one method to meet current and future demands for seafood. Supplementing the harvest of domestic fisheries with cultured product will help the U.S. meet consumers’ growing demand for seafood and may reduce the nation’s dependence on seafood imports. Currently, the U.S. imports over 80 percent of the seafood consumed in the country, and the annual U.S. seafood trade deficit is at an all time high of over $9 billion.

Summary of the Legal Basis: Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, 16 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.

Alternatives: The Council’s Aquaculture FMP includes 10 actions, each with an associated range of alternatives. These actions and alternatives are collectively intended to establish a regional permitting process for offshore aquaculture. Management actions in the FMP include: 1) Aquaculture permit requirements, eligibility, and transferability; 2) duration aquaculture permits are effective; 3) aquaculture application requirements, operational requirements, and restrictions; 4) species allowed for aquaculture; 5) allowable aquaculture systems; 6) marine aquaculture siting requirements and conditions; 7) restricted access zones for aquaculture facilities; 8) recordkeeping and reporting requirements; 9) biological reference points and status determination criteria; and 10) framework procedures for modifying biological reference points and regulatory measures.

Anticipated Costs and Benefits: Environmental and social/economic costs and benefits are described in detail in the Council’s Aquaculture FMP. Potential benefits include: establishing a rigorous review process for reviewing and approving/denying aquaculture permits, increasing optimum yield by supplementing the harvest of wild domestic fisheries with cultured products, and reducing the nation’s dependence on imported seafood. Anticipated costs include: increased administration and oversight of an aquaculture permitting process and potential negative environmental impacts to wild marine resources. Approval of an aquaculture permitting system may also benefit fishing communities by creating new jobs or impact fishing communities if cultured products economically displace domestic seafood.

Risks: National offshore aquaculture legislation has also been previously proposed by the Administration. This action may reduce the need for uniform national legislation and allow aquaculture regulations to vary by region.