Americans have a chance to help shape the way in which aquaculture projects take shape in their regions as federal agencies move steadfastly towards growing the industry across the nation.
Recently the U.S. Department of Commerce and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration released draft national aquaculture policies that aim to "increase the U.S. supply of healthy seafood, create jobs in coastal and other communities, spur innovation in technology, and help restore depleted species and marine habitats." (Algae farming is included in the policies.)
The policies are based in part on input from listening sessions held around the U.S. last year, including Alaska. Let's put aquaculture in context, advised Larry Robinson, NOAA assistant secretary of commerce, at a media teleconference from Washington, D.C.
Aquaculture has overtaken wild fisheries as the main source of seafood. Eighty-four percent of the seafood Americans eat is imported, and about half of that is farmed, he said.
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Alaska Journal of Commerce (Anchorage, AK).