§ 2801. — Congressional findings, purpose, and policy.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 16USC2801]
TITLE 16--CONSERVATION
CHAPTER 48--NATIONAL AQUACULTURE POLICY, PLANNING, AND DEVELOPMENT
Sec. 2801. Congressional findings, purpose, and policy
(a) Findings
Congress finds the following:
(1) The harvest of certain species of fish and shellfish exceeds
levels of optimum sustainable yield, thereby making it more
difficult to meet the increasing demand for aquatic food.
(2) To satisfy the domestic market for aquatic food, the United
States imports more than 50 per centum of its fish and shellfish,
but this dependence on imports adversely affects the national
balance of payments and contributes to the uncertainty of supplies.
(3) Although aquaculture currently contributes approximately 13
percent of world seafood production, less than 6 percent of current
United States seafood production results from aquaculture. Domestic
aquacultural production, therefore, has the potential for
significant growth.
(4) Aquacultural production of aquatic plants can provide
sources of food, industrial materials, pharmaceuticals, and energy,
and can assist in the control and abatement of pollution.
(5) The rehabilitation and enhancement of fish and shellfish
resources are desirable applications of aquacultural technology.
(6) The principal responsibility for the development of
aquaculture in the United States must rest with the private sector.
(7) Despite its potential, the development of aquaculture in the
United States has been inhibited by many scientific, economic,
legal, and production factors, such as inadequate credit, diffused
legal jurisdiction, the lack of management information, the lack of
supportive Government policies, and the lack of reliable supplies of
seed stock.
(8) Many areas of the United States are suitable for
aquaculture, but are subject to land-use or water-use management
policies that do not adequately consider the potential for
aquaculture and may inhibit the development of aquaculture.
(b) Purpose
It is the purpose of this chapter to promote aquaculture in the
United States by--
(1) declaring a national aquaculture policy;
(2) establishing and implementing a national aquaculture
development plan;
(3) establishing the Department of Agriculture as the lead
Federal agency with respect to the coordination and dissemination of
national aquaculture information by designating the Secretary of
Agriculture as the permanent chairman of the coordinating group and
by establishing a National Aquaculture Information Center within the
Department of Agriculture; and
(4) encouraging aquaculture activities and programs in both the
public and private sectors of the economy;
that will result in increased aquacultural production, the coordination
of domestic aquaculture efforts, the conservation and enhancement of
aquatic resources, the creation of new industries and job opportunities,
and other national benefits.
(c) Policy
Congress declares that aquaculture has the potential for reducing
the United States trade deficit in fisheries products, for augmenting
existing commercial and recreational fisheries and for producing other
renewable resources, thereby assisting the United States in meeting its
future food needs and contributing to the solution of world resource
problems. It is, therefore, in the national interest, and it is the
national policy, to encourage the development of aquaculture in the
United States.
(Pub. L. 96-362, Sec. 2, Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1198; Pub. L. 99-198,
title XVII, Sec. 1732, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1641.)
Amendments
1985--Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1732(1), substituted ``13
percent'' for ``10 per centum'' and ``6 percent'' for ``3 per centum''.
Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1732(2), inserted
``scientific,'' before ``economic,'' and ``the lack of supportive
Government policies,'' after ``management information,''.
Subsec. (b)(3), (4). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1732(3), added par. (3)
and redesignated former par. (3) as (4).
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99-198, Sec. 1732(4), inserted ``or reducing
the United States trade deficit in fisheries products,''.
Short Title of 1985 Amendment
Section 1731 of Pub. L. 99-198 provided that: ``This subtitle
[subtitle C [D] (Secs. 1731-1737) of title XVII of Pub. L. 99-198,
amending this section and sections 2802 to 2805 and 2809 of this title]
may be cited as the `National Aquaculture Improvement Act of 1985'.''
Short Title
Section 1 of Pub. L. 96-362 provided: ``That this Act [enacting this
chapter] may be cited as the `National Aquaculture Act of 1980'.''
