[Congressional Bills 103th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1288 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

103d CONGRESS
  1st Session
                                S. 1288

   To provide for the coordination and implementation of a national 
     aquaculture policy for the private sector by the Secretary of 
  Agriculture, to establish an aquaculture commercialization research 
                    program, and for other purposes.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                July 27 (legislative day, June 30), 1993

Mr. Akaka (for himself, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Craig, Mr. Gorton, and Mr. Pell) 
introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the 
           Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
   To provide for the coordination and implementation of a national 
     aquaculture policy for the private sector by the Secretary of 
  Agriculture, to establish an aquaculture commercialization research 
                    program, and for other purposes.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS; REFERENCES.

    (a) Short Title.--This Act may be cited as the ``National 
Aquaculture Development, Commercialization, and Promotion Act of 
1993''.
    (b) Table of Contents.--The table of contents of this Act is as 
follows:

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents; references.
Sec. 2. Findings and purpose.
Sec. 3. Definitions.
Sec. 4. National aquaculture development plan.
Sec. 5. National Aquaculture Information Center; assignment of new 
                            programs; market development program.
Sec. 6. Coordination with the aquaculture industry.
Sec. 7. Aquaculture commercialization research.
Sec. 8. National policy for private aquaculture.
Sec. 9. Pollution assessment.
Sec. 10. Native American fishpond revitalization.
Sec. 11. Disaster assistance for aquaculture farms.
Sec. 12. Aquaculture education.
Sec. 13. International aquaculture scientific exchange.
Sec. 14. Authorization of appropriations.
Sec. 15. Eligibility of aquaculture farmers for farm credit assistance.
Sec. 16. International aquaculture information and data collection.
Sec. 17. Eligibility of aquaculture farms for emergency conservation 
                            program.
Sec. 18. Aquaculture information network report.
Sec. 19. Implementation report.
    (c) References to National Aquaculture Act of 1980.--Except as 
otherwise expressly provided, whenever in this Act an amendment or 
repeal is expressed in terms of an amendment to, or repeal of, a 
section or other provision, the reference shall be considered to be 
made to a section or other provision of the National Aquaculture Act of 
1980 (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.).

SEC. 2. FINDINGS AND PURPOSE.

    (a) Findings.--Subsection (a) of section 2 (16 U.S.C. 2801(a)) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
            ``(1) The wild harvest or capture fisheries of certain 
        seafood species 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 59 percent of its seafood. This 
        dependence on imports adversely affects the national balance of 
        payments and contributes to the uncertainty of supplies and 
        product quality.
            ``(3) Although aquaculture currently contributes 
        approximately 16 percent by weight of world seafood production, 
        less than 9 percent by weight of current United States seafood 
        production results from aquaculture. As a result, domestic 
        aquaculture production has the potential for significant 
        growth.
            ``(4) Aquaculture production of aquatic animals and plants 
        can provide sources for food, industrial materials, 
        pharmaceuticals, energy, and aesthetic enjoyment, and can 
        assist in the control and abatement of pollution.
            ``(5) The rehabilitation and enhancement of fish and 
        shellfish resources are desirable applications of aquaculture 
        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--
                    ``(A) inadequate credit;
                    ``(B) limited research and development programs;
                    ``(C) diffused legal jurisdiction;
                    ``(D) inconsistent interpretations between Federal 
                agencies;
                    ``(E) the lack of management information;
                    ``(F) the lack of supportive policies of the 
                Federal Government;
                    ``(G) the lack of therapeutic compounds for 
                treatment of the diseases of aquatic animals and 
                plants; and
                    ``(H) 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 and regulations that do not adequately 
        consider the potential for aquaculture and may inhibit the 
        development of aquaculture.
            ``(9) In 1990, the United States ranked only tenth in the 
        world in aquaculture production based on total value of 
        products.
            ``(10) Despite the current and increasing importance of 
        private aquaculture to the United States economy and to rural 
        areas in the United States, Federal efforts to nurture 
        aquaculture development have failed to keep pace with the needs 
        of fish and aquatic plant farmers.
            ``(11) The United States has a premier opportunity to 
        develop an important new agricultural industry to serve 
        national needs and the global marketplace.
            ``(12) United States aquaculture provides wholesome 
        products for domestic consumers and contributes significantly 
        to the quality of life in rural areas in the United States.
            ``(13) Since 1980, the United States trade deficit in 
        edible fishery products foods has increased by 48 percent, from 
        $1,777,921,000 to $2,634,738,000 in 1991.
            ``(14) Aquaculture is poised to become a major growth 
        industry of the 21st century. With global seafood demand 
        projected to increase 70 percent by 2025, and harvests from 
        capture fisheries stable or declining, aquaculture would have 
        to increase production by 700 percent, a total of 77 million 
        metric tons annually.
            ``(15) Private aquaculture production in the United States 
        has increased an average of 20 percent by weight annually since 
        1980, and is one of the fastest growing segments of United 
        States and world agriculture.
            ``(16) In 1990, private United States aquaculture 
        production was 860,750,000 pounds, worth $761,500,000 to United 
        States fish farmers, up from 203,178,000 pounds, worth 
        $191,977,000, in 1980.
            ``(17) Since 1960, per capita consumption of aquatic foods 
        in the United States has increased by 49 percent to 14.9 pounds 
        in 1991, and could reach 20 pounds by the year 2000. Total 
        United States demand is projected to double by 2020.''.
    (b) Purpose.--Subsection (b) of section 2 (16 U.S.C. 2801(b)) is 
amended to read as follows:
    ``(b) Purpose.--It is the purpose of this Act to promote 
aquaculture in the United States by--
            ``(1) declaring a national aquaculture policy;
            ``(2) establishing private aquaculture as a form of 
        agriculture;
            ``(3) establishing cultivated aquatic animals, plants, 
        microorganisms, and their products produced by private persons 
        and moving in standard commodity channels as agricultural 
        livestock, crops, and commodities;
            ``(4) establishing the Department as the lead Federal 
        agency for the development, implementation, promotion, and 
        coordination of national policy and programs for private 
        aquaculture by--
                    ``(A) designating the Secretary as the permanent 
                chairperson of a Federal interagency aquaculture 
                coordinating group;
                    ``(B) assigning overall responsibility to the 
                Secretary for coordinating, developing, and carrying 
                out policies and programs for private aquaculture; and
                    ``(C) establishing a National Aquaculture 
                Information Center within the Department to support the 
                United States aquaculture industry; and
            ``(5) encouraging--
                    ``(A) aquaculture activities and programs in both 
                the public and private sectors of the economy of the 
                United States;
                    ``(B) the creation of new industries and job 
                opportunities related to aquaculture activities;
                    ``(C) the reduction of the fisheries trade deficit; 
                and
                    ``(D) other national policy benefits deriving from 
                aquaculture activities.''.

SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

    Section 3 (16 U.S.C. 2802) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``the propogation'' and 
        all that follows through the period at the end and inserting 
        ``the controlled cultivation of aquatic plants and animals.'';
            (2) in paragraph (3), by inserting before the period at the 
        end the following: ``or microorganism'';
            (3) by redesignating paragraphs (7) through (9) as 
        paragraphs (9) through (11), respectively;
            (4) by redesignating paragraphs (5) and (6) as paragraphs 
        (6) and (7), respectively;
            (5) by inserting after paragraph (4) the following new 
        paragraph:
            ``(5) The term `Department' means the United States 
        Department of Agriculture.''; and
            (6) by inserting before paragraph (9) (as redesignated by 
        paragraph (3)) the following new paragraph:
            ``(8) The term `private aquaculture' means the controlled 
        cultivation of aquatic plants and animals other than 
        cultivation carried out by, or under contract with, the Federal 
        Government or any State or local government.''.

SEC. 4. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT PLAN.

    Section 4 (16 U.S.C. 2803) is amended--
            (1) in the second sentence of subsection (c)--
                    (A) in subparagraph (A), by adding ``and'' at the 
                end;
                    (B) in subparagraph (B), by striking ``; and'' and 
                inserting a period; and
                    (C) by striking subparagraph (C);
            (2) in the second sentence of subsection (d), by striking 
        ``Secretaries determine'' and inserting ``Secretary, in 
        consultation with the other Secretaries, determines'';
            (3) in subsection (e)--
                    (A) by striking ``Secretaries'' and inserting 
                ``Secretary''; and
                    (B) by inserting ``and in consultation with the 
                other Secretaries and representatives of other Federal 
                agencies'' after ``coordinating group''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(f) Accomplishments in Aquaculture Programs.--Not later than 
December 31, 1994, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of 
Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior, shall submit to Congress a 
report evaluating the actions taken in accordance with subsection (d) 
with respect to the Plan, and making recommendations for updating and 
modifying the Plan. The report shall also contain a compendium on 
Federal regulations relating to aquaculture.''.

SEC. 5. NATIONAL AQUACULTURE INFORMATION CENTER; ASSIGNMENT OF NEW 
              PROGRAMS; MARKET DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM.

    Section 5 (16 U.S.C. 2804) is amended--
            (1) in subsection (b)(3), by striking ``Secretaries deem'' 
        and inserting ``Secretary, in consultation with the other 
        Secretaries, considers'';
            (2) in subsection (c)(1)(B)--
                    (A) by striking clause (i) and inserting the 
                following new clause:
                    ``(i) establish, within the Department, within the 
                National Agricultural Library, a National Aquaculture 
                Information Center that shall--
                            ``(I) serve as a repository and 
                        clearinghouse for the information collected 
                        under subparagraph (A) and other provisions of 
                        this Act;
                            ``(II) carry out a program to notify 
                        organizations, institutions, and individuals 
                        known to be involved in aquaculture of the 
                        existence of the Center and the kinds of 
                        information that the Center can make available 
                        to the public; and
                            ``(III) make available, on request, 
                        information described in subclause (I) 
                        (including information collected under 
                        subsection (e));''; and
                    (B) in clause (ii), by striking the comma and 
                inserting a semicolon;
            (3) in the first sentence of subsection (d), by striking 
        ``Interior,,'' and inserting ``Interior,''; and
            (4) by adding at the end the following new subsections:
    ``(e) Assignment of New Programs.--In consultation with 
representatives of the United States aquaculture industry and in 
coordination with the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary of 
Commerce, and the heads of other appropriate Federal agencies, the 
Secretary shall assess Federal aquatic animal health programs and make 
recommendations as to the appropriate assignment to Federal agencies of 
new programs, initiatives, and activities in support of aquaculture and 
resource stewardship and management.
    ``(f) Use of Excess Section 32 Funds.--(1)(A)(i) Subject to 
subparagraphs (B) and (C), the Secretary shall expend for aquaculture 
export promotion, research, development, education, market development, 
and demonstration projects, for each fiscal year, an amount equal to 
the aquaculture production percentage of the funds remaining available 
to the Department for the fiscal year under section 32 of the Act 
entitled `An Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for 
other purposes', approved August 14, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), after the 
application of the first 5 sentences of such section.
    ``(ii) As used in clause (i), the term `aquaculture production 
percentage' means the annual weight of aquaculture products of the 
United States divided by the annual weight of fisheries landings of the 
United States (other than landings that are not used for human 
consumption).
    ``(B) The Secretary may expend all or part of the funds required to 
be expended pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) for the purpose of 
strengthening aquaculture markets, income, and supply.
    ``(C) In determining the purposes for which the funds required to 
be expended pursuant to subparagraph (A)(i) are to be expended, the 
Secretary shall give high priority to carrying out subsection (e)(2).
    ``(2) For the purpose of carrying out this Act, for each fiscal 
year, the Secretary may expend the funds remaining available to the 
Department for the fiscal year under section 32 of the Act entitled `An 
Act to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act, and for other purposes', 
approved August 14, 1935 (7 U.S.C. 612c), after the application of 
paragraph (1).
    ``(3) For each fiscal year, if funds remain available to the 
Department for the fiscal year under section 32 of such Act after the 
exercise (if any) of authority under paragraph (2), the Secretary shall 
provide to the National Aquaculture Information Center established 
under subsection (c)(1)(B)(i) for activities of the Center during the 
fiscal year the lesser of--
            ``(A) the amount of the remaining funds; or
            ``(B)(i) $1,000,000; minus
            ``(ii) the lesser of--
                    ``(I) any funds provided to the Center under 
                paragraph (2); or
                    ``(II) $1,000,000.''.

SEC. 6. COORDINATION WITH THE AQUACULTURE INDUSTRY.

    Section 6(b) (16 U.S.C. 2805(b)) is amended--
            (1) in paragraph (5), by striking ``and'' at the end;
            (2) in paragraph (6), by striking the period at the end and 
        inserting ``; and''; and
            (3) by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
            ``(7) in order to facilitate improved communication and 
        interaction among aquaculture producers, the aquaculture 
        community, the Federal Government, and the coordinating group, 
        establish a working relationship with--
                    ``(A) the industry advisory councils of the 
                regional aquaculture centers established by the 
                Secretary under section 1475(d) of the National 
                Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
                Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(d)); and
                    ``(B) national organizations, commodity 
                associations, and professional societies representing 
                aquaculture interests.''.

SEC. 7. AQUACULTURE COMMERCIALIZATION RESEARCH.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended--
            (1) by redesignating sections 7 through 11 as sections 14 
        through 18, respectively; and
            (2) by inserting after section 6 the following new section:

``SEC. 7. AQUACULTURE COMMERCIALIZATION RESEARCH.

    ``(a) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            ``(1) Eligible entity.--The term `eligible entity' means a 
        public or private research or educational organization, private 
        company, regional center, Federal, State, or regional agency, 
        or individual that is eligible to receive a grant or enter into 
        a contract under this section.
            ``(2) Regional aquaculture center.--The term `regional 
        aquaculture center' means an aquacultural research, 
        development, and demonstration center established under section 
        1475(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and 
        Teaching Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(d)).
    ``(b) Assistance and Coordination.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary--
                    ``(A) may pay the Federal share of the cost of 
                making grants and awarding contracts to eligible 
                entities to support aquaculture research that--
                            ``(i) demonstrates strong potential for 
                        aquaculture becoming commercially viable; or
                            ``(ii) will assist the United States 
                        aquaculture industry in developing aquaculture 
                        products or processes that will be competitive 
                        with aquaculture products or processes of other 
                        countries; and
                    ``(B) shall, acting through the executive committee 
                of the interagency aquaculture coordinating group 
                established pursuant to section 6, coordinate the 
                implementation of a research program based on the 
                findings contained in the report entitled `Report of 
                the Joint Committee on Aquaculture Task Force on 
                Therapeutic Compounds', published in August 1988.
            ``(2) Cost share.--
                    ``(A) Federal share.--Except as provided in 
                subparagraph (B), the Federal share of the cost of a 
                project carried out under--
                            ``(i) paragraph (1)(A), shall be 80 
                        percent; and
                            ``(ii) paragraph (1)(B), shall be 100 
                        percent.
                    ``(B) Remaining share.--The remaining share of the 
                cost of a project carried out under paragraph (1)(A) 
                may be--
                            ``(i) in the form of cash or in-kind 
                        payments, or both; and
                            ``(ii) partially comprised of funds made 
                        available under other Federal programs, except 
                        that the non-Federal share of the project may 
                        not be less than 10 per cent of the cost of the 
                        project.
    ``(c) Priorities.--In making grants or awarding contracts under 
subsection (b), the Secretary shall give priority to--
            ``(1) highly focused applied research;
            ``(2) investigations of new products or processes that 
        demonstrate a high potential for aquaculture commercialization;
            ``(3) market development programs for new or improved 
        aquaculture products or processes;
            ``(4) field testing, commercial field trials, and 
        applications of aquaculture research to private aquaculture 
        that would promote the transfer of promising aquaculture 
        technologies to the marketplace;
            ``(5) activities that have strong potential to create 
        employment opportunities; and
            ``(6) other activities that accelerate the 
        commercialization of promising aquaculture technologies.
    ``(d) Competitive Review.--
            ``(1) In general.--To be eligible to receive a grant or 
        enter into a contract under subsection (b), a proposal shall 
        undergo competitive review.
            ``(2) Competitive review panels.--A competitive review 
        panel shall be composed of individuals appointed by the 
        Secretary, at least 50 percent of whom work in private 
        aquaculture or are private sector representatives who 
        understand sound business practices and are qualified to 
        objectively evaluate the likelihood of a proposal being 
        economically successful or promoting economic success within 
        the aquaculture industry. Each competitive review panel shall 
        contain at least 1 representative from a regional aquaculture 
        center.
            ``(3) Evaluation.--A competitive review panel shall base an 
        evaluation of a proposal under this subsection on--
                    ``(A) the quality of the proposal and the research 
                methodology;
                    ``(B) the capability of the participating 
                organization to perform the proposed work;
                    ``(C) the potential for fostering 
                commercialization, job creation, and increased sales of 
                aquaculture products;
                    ``(D) the amount of matching funds provided by the 
                supported entity or obtained from non-Federal sources;
                    ``(E) the extent of collaboration with other 
                Federal and State programs;
                    ``(F) the existence of a business plan that 
                reasonably projects the benefits of the support being 
                requested;
                    ``(G) in the case of a noncommercial entity, the 
                existence of a cooperative agreement with a commercial 
                entity;
                    ``(H) whether the project would promote responsible 
                environmental stewardship; and
                    ``(I) such other factors as the competitive review 
                panel determines to be appropriate.
    ``(e) Limitations.--
            ``(1) Regional aquaculture centers.--Not less than 60 
        percent of the amounts made available to carry out this section 
        during a fiscal year shall be used to carry out projects that 
        will facilitate the commercialization of preliminary research 
        or investigations that have been funded or coordinated by 
        regional aquaculture centers.
            ``(2) Administrative expenses.--Not more than 3 percent of 
        the amounts made available to carry out this section during a 
        fiscal year may be used by the Secretary for the expenses of 
        administration and information collection and dissemination.
            ``(3) Construction costs.--None of the funds made available 
        under this section may be used for the construction of a new 
        building or the acquisition, expansion, remodeling, or 
        alteration of an existing building (including site grading and 
        improvement and architect fees).
    ``(f) Reports.--An eligible entity that receives a grant or enters 
into a contract under a project carried out under this section shall 
submit an annual progress report, and a final report, to the Secretary 
that--
            ``(1) describes project activities and commercial and 
        economic accomplishments and impacts; and
            ``(2) in the case of an annual progress report, includes a 
        project plan for the subsequent year.
    ``(g) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized to be 
appropriated such sums as are necessary to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 8. NATIONAL POLICY FOR PRIVATE AQUACULTURE.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 7 (as added by section 7(2)) the following new section:

``SEC. 8. IMPLEMENTATION OF NATIONAL POLICY FOR PRIVATE AQUACULTURE.

    ``(a) In General.--The Secretary, in consultation with the 
Secretary of Commerce, the Secretary of the Interior, and the heads of 
other agencies, as appropriate, shall coordinate and implement a 
national policy for private aquaculture in accordance with this 
section.
    ``(b) Department Aquaculture Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Secretary shall develop and 
        implement a Department Aquaculture Plan (referred to in this 
        section as the `plan') for a unified Department aquaculture 
        program, coordinated by the Director of the Office of 
        Aquaculture of the Department, to support the development of 
        private United States aquaculture.
            ``(2) Elements of plan.--The plan shall address--
                    ``(A) individual agency programs related to 
                aquaculture in the Department that are consistent with 
                Department programs applied to other agricultural 
                programs, livestock, crops, products, and commodities 
                under the jurisdiction of Department agencies;
                    ``(B) the treatment of cultivated aquatic animals 
                as livestock and cultivated aquatic plants as 
                agricultural crops; and
                    ``(C) means for effective coordination and 
                implementation of aquaculture activities and programs 
                within the Department, including individual agency 
                commitments of personnel and resources.
            ``(3) Deadline.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the National Aquaculture Development, 
        Commercialization, and Promotion Act of 1993, the Secretary 
        shall submit the plan to Congress.
            ``(4) Reports.--Not later than 1 year after the date of the 
        submission of the plan pursuant to paragraph (3), and annually 
        thereafter, the Secretary shall report to Congress on actions 
        taken to implement the plan during the year preceding the date 
        of the report.
            ``(5) National aquaculture information center.--
                    ``(A) In general.--In carrying out section 5, the 
                Secretary shall maintain and support the National 
                Aquaculture Information Center (referred to in this 
                paragraph as the `Center') as a repository for 
                information on national and international aquaculture.
                    ``(B) Public access.--Information in the Center 
                shall be made available to the public.
                    ``(C) International exchange.--The head of the 
                Center shall arrange with foreign nations for the 
                exchange of information relating to aquaculture and 
                shall support a translation service.
                    ``(D) Support.--The Center shall provide direct 
                support to the coordinating group.
    ``(c) National Aquaculture Development Plan.--
            ``(1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date of 
        enactment of the National Aquaculture Development, 
        Commercialization, and Promotion Act of 1993, the Secretary 
        shall revise the National Aquaculture Development Plan required 
        to be established under section 4.
            ``(2) Coordination.--The Secretary shall integrate and 
        coordinate the aquaculture and related missions, major 
        objectives, and program components of individual aquaculture 
        plans of the coordinating group members.
            ``(3) Submission to congress.--Not later than 1 year after 
        the date of enactment of the National Aquaculture Development, 
        Commercialization, and Promotion Act of 1993, the Secretary 
        shall submit a revised Plan to Congress.
            ``(4) Updates.--Not later than 5 years after the date of 
        the submission of the revised Plan pursuant to paragraph (3), 
        and annually thereafter, the Secretary shall revise the 
        National Aquaculture Development Plan.
    ``(d) Treatment of Aquaculture.--The Secretary shall, for all 
purposes, treat--
            ``(1) private aquaculture as a form of agriculture; and
            ``(2) aquaculture products produced by private persons and 
        moving in standard commodity channels as agricultural 
        commodities.
    ``(e) Resolution of Interagency Conflict.--In consultation with 
representatives of affected Federal agencies, the Secretary shall be 
responsible for resolving any interagency conflict in the coordination 
or implementation of the policy described in this section.
    ``(f) Private Aquaculture Policy Coordination, Development, and 
Implementation.--
            ``(1) Responsibility.--The Secretary shall have overall 
        responsibility for coordinating, developing, and carrying out 
        policies and programs for private aquaculture.
            ``(2) Duties.--The Director of the Office of Aquaculture of 
        the Department shall--
                    ``(A) represent the Secretary in all 
                interdepartmental functions and activities relating to 
                private aquaculture;
                    ``(B) coordinate all intradepartmental functions 
                and activities relating to private aquaculture;
                    ``(C) establish formal structures and procedures 
                for the coordination of functions, and consultation, 
                with the coordinating group;
                    ``(D) recommend to the National Agricultural 
                Library methods by which the aquaculture resources of 
                the Library can be made more easily retrievable and can 
                be more widely disseminated; and
                    ``(E) report directly to the Secretary in carrying 
                out the duties of the Director.
            ``(3) Liaison with the office.--
                    ``(A) Agencies of the department.--To facilitate 
                communication and interaction between the aquaculture 
                community and the Department, the head of each agency 
                of the Department shall designate an officer or 
                employee of the agency to be the liaison of the agency 
                with the Office of Aquaculture of the Department.
                    ``(B) Departments of commerce and interior.--The 
                Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior 
                shall each designate an officer or employee of their 
                respective Departments to be the liaison of their 
                respective Departments with the Office of Aquaculture 
                of the Department.''.

SEC. 9. POLLUTION ASSESSMENT.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 8 (as added by section 8) the following new section:

``SEC. 9. POLLUTION ASSESSMENT.

    ``(a) Assessment.--The Administrator of the Environmental 
Protection Agency is authorized to carry out, in consultation with the 
Secretary, collaborative interagency programs that demonstrate the 
application of aquaculture to environmental enhancement and assessment, 
including a program to assess the impact of pollution on aquatic 
organisms and ecosystems using aquaculture-raised fish to serve as an 
indicator of environmental pollution.
    ``(b) Grants; Cooperative Agreements.--The Administrator may 
provide grants or enter into cooperative agreements or contracts with 
private research organizations for research and demonstration of the 
technology authorized by this section.''.

SEC. 10. NATIVE AMERICAN FISHPOND REVITALIZATION.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 9 (as added by section 9) the following new section:

``SEC. 10. NATIVE AMERICAN FISHPOND REVITALIZATION.

    ``(a) Definition of Native American.--As used in this section, the 
term `Native American' means--
            ``(1) an Indian, as defined in section 4(d) of the Indian 
        Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 
        450b(d));
            ``(2) a Native Hawaiian, as defined in section 8(3) of the 
        Native Hawaiian Health Care Act of 1988 (42 U.S.C. 11707(3)) or 
        section 815(3) of the Native American Programs Act (42 U.S.C. 
        2992c(3));
            ``(3) an Alaska Native, within the meaning provided for the 
        term `Native' in section 3(b) of the Alaska Native Claims 
        Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1602(b)); and
            ``(4) a Pacific Islander, within the meaning of the Native 
        American Programs Act of 1974 (42 U.S.C. 2991 et seq.)
    ``(b) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary of Agriculture is 
authorized to carry out a program to revitalize fishponds used by 
Native Americans to cultivate aquatic species.
    ``(c) Grants; Cooperative Agreements.--The Secretary may provide 
grants or enter into cooperative agreements with individuals and 
organizations, including Native American organizations, to promote 
fishpond revitalization. Funds provided under this section may be used 
to engage in fishpond research, pond culture technology development, 
the application of traditional pond culture techniques and modern 
aquaculture practices to ancient fishponds, technical assistance and 
technology transfer, and such other activities as the Secretary 
determines are appropriate.''.

SEC. 11. DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR AQUACULTURE FARMS.

    (a) In General.--The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by 
inserting after section 10 (as added by section 10) the following new 
section:

``SEC. 11. DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR AQUACULTURE FARMS.

    ``(a) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            ``(1) Damaging weather.--The term `damaging weather' 
        includes drought, hail, excessive moisture, flooding, freeze, 
        tornado, hurricane, earthquake, or excessive wind, or any 
        combination thereof.
            ``(2) Eligible aquaculture farmer.--The term `eligible 
        aquaculture farmer' means a person who produces aquaculture 
        crops for commercial purposes and devotes 100 acres or less to 
        aquaculture cultivation.
            ``(3) Related condition.--The term `related condition' 
        includes insect infestations, plant diseases, or other 
        deterioration of a crop of an aquatic species, including 
        aflatoxin, that is accelerated or exacerbated naturally as a 
        result of damaging weather occurring prior to or during 
        harvest.
    ``(b) Eligibility.--
            ``(1) Loss.--Subject to the limitation in paragraph (2), 
        the Secretary shall provide assistance, as specified in 
        subsection (c), to eligible aquaculture farmers who suffered 
        losses (including losses due to mortality, crop destruction, or 
        unmarketability) of an aquatic crop as a result of damaging 
        weather or related condition.
            ``(2) Limitation.--An eligible aquaculture farmer shall 
        qualify for assistance under paragraph (1) only if the loss, as 
        a result of damaging weather or related condition, exceeds 35 
        percent of the aquaculture yield, as determined under 
        subsection (d), for the aquaculture crop.
    ``(c) Assistance.
            ``(1) Payment rate.--The Secretary shall make payments to 
        eligible aquaculture farmers at a rate equal to 65 percent of 
        the applicable payment level under paragraph (2), as determined 
        by the Secretary, for any losses.
            ``(2) Payment level.--For the purposes of paragraph (l), 
        the payment level for an aquaculture crop shall equal the 
        simple average price received by producers of the commodity as 
        determined by the Secretary.
            ``(3) Crop-by-crop basis.--The Secretary shall make 
        disaster payments under this section on a crop-by-crop basis 
        for each type of aquatic species produced.
    ``(d) Yields.--
            ``(1) Proven yields available.--If an eligible aquaculture 
        farmer can provide satisfactory evidence to the Secretary of 
        actual aquaculture crop yields on the farm for at least 1 of 
        the immediately preceding 3 years, the aquaculture yield for 
        the farm shall be based on proven yield.
            ``(2) Proven yields not available.--If the data referred to 
        in paragraph (1) do not exist for any of the 3 preceding years, 
        the Secretary shall establish a yield for the farm by using the 
        historical average yield of all producers of the aquaculture 
        crop.
            ``(3) Best available data.--In establishing historic 
        average yields where proven yields are not available, the 
        Secretary shall use the best available information concerning 
        yields. The information may include Extension Service records, 
        credible nongovernmental studies, and yields at similar 
        aquaculture farms.
    ``(e) Regulations.--The Secretary shall issue regulations--
            ``(1) defining the term `person' for the purposes of this 
        section, which shall conform, to the extent practicable, to the 
        regulations issued under section 1001 of the Food Security Act 
        of 1985 (7 U.S.C. 1308) and chapter 3 of subtitle B of title 
        XXII of the Food, Agriculture, Conservation, and Trade Act of 
        1990 (7 U.S.C. 1421 note); and
            ``(2) prescribing such rules as the Secretary determines 
        necessary to ensure a fair and reasonable application of this 
        section.''.
    (b) Report on Crop Insurance Program for Aquaculture Farming.--Not 
later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Secretary of Agriculture shall report to the appropriate committees of 
Congress on the feasibility of establishing a crop insurance program 
for aquaculture farming.

SEC. 12. AQUACULTURE EDUCATION.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 11 (as added by section 11) the following new section:

``SEC. 12. AQUACULTURE EDUCATION.

    ``(a) Definitions.--As used in this section:
            ``(1) Postsecondary vocational institution.--The term 
        `postsecondary vocational institution' has the same meaning 
        given the term by section 481(c) of the Higher Education Act of 
        1965 (20 U.S.C. 1088(c)), except that the term only includes an 
        institution that awards an associates degree but does not award 
        a bachelor's degree.
            ``(2) Secondary school.--The term `secondary school' has 
        the same meaning given the term by section 1471(21) of the 
        Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 
        2891(21)).
    ``(b) Authorization of Program.--The Secretary is authorized to 
establish a program to expand and improve instruction, on aquaculture 
and the basic principles of aquaculture farming, in the agriculture 
curriculum for students attending secondary schools and postsecondary 
vocational institutions.
    ``(c) Grants and Curriculum.--In carrying out subsection (b), the 
Secretary may--
            ``(1) make grants to--
                    ``(A) establish and maintain aquaculture learning 
                centers in secondary schools and postsecondary 
                vocational institutions;
                    ``(B) promote aquaculture technology transfer; and
                    ``(C) educate consumers and the public concerning 
                the benefits of aquaculture; and
            ``(2) develop curriculum and supporting materials on 
        aquaculture farming, field test the content of the curriculum, 
        and supply training to educators at secondary schools and 
        postsecondary vocational institutions on the aquaculture 
        curriculum and materials developed.
    ``(d) Priority for Grants.--In awarding grants under subsection 
(c)(1), the Secretary shall give priority to--
            ``(1) the ability of the proposed aquaculture learning 
        center to gain access to--
                    ``(A) a commercial aquaculture farm;
                    ``(B) a regional aquaculture center established by 
                the Secretary under section 1475(d) of the National 
                Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching Policy 
                Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(d));
                    ``(C) an aquaculture research facility; or
                    ``(D) a similar venture that would afford students 
                the opportunity to experience aquaculture research and 
                development or commercialization;
            ``(2) the ability of the center to achieve outreach to 
        minority audiences or students in inner-city schools;
            ``(3) the ability of the center to foster awareness of 
        aquaculture among consumers and the general public;
            ``(4) the ability of the center to serve as an aquaculture 
        education facility for visiting students participating in a 
        field trip or a similar educational experience for inservice 
        training; and
            ``(5) the level of assistance to be provided from non-
        Federal sources.
    ``(e) Limitation.--
            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), a 
        grantee may not receive a grant under this section for more 
        than 5 fiscal years.
            ``(2) Waiver.--In the case of grantees that receive grants 
        under this section for fiscal year 1995, the Secretary may 
        waive the application of paragraph (1) to the grantees for the 
        fiscal year if the Secretary determines that the application of 
        paragraph (1) to the grantees would result in the termination 
        of an excessive number of grants.''.

SEC. 13. INTERNATIONAL AQUACULTURE SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE.

    The Act (16 U.S.C. 2801 et seq.) is amended by inserting after 
section 12 (as added by section 12) the following new section:

``SEC. 13. INTERNATIONAL AQUACULTURE SCIENTIFIC EXCHANGE.

    ``(a) Definition of Eligible Entity.--As used in this section, the 
term `eligible entity' means a regional aquaculture center, college, 
university, or nonprofit organization engaged in aquaculture research 
and education in the United States or a foreign country.
    ``(b) Grants.--The Secretary may make grants to eligible entities 
to defray the cost, in whole or in part, of allowing aquaculture 
researchers and aquaculture technologists to engage in research, 
education, and demonstration at the eligible entities for periods of up 
to 2 years.
    ``(c) Funding.--The Secretary may use proceeds from the payments 
referred to in section 104(a) of the Agricultural Trade Development and 
Assistance Act of 1954 (7 U.S.C. 1704(a)) to carry out this section.''.

SEC. 14. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    The first sentence of section 17 (as redesignated by section 7(1)) 
is amended to read as follows: ``There are authorized to be 
appropriated to carry out this Act to the Department $3,000,000 for 
each of fiscal years 1994 through 2000 (of which not less than $500,000 
shall be used for each fiscal year to carry out the Joint Subcommittee 
on Aquaculture established under section 6(a)), to the Department of 
Commerce $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 through 2000, and to 
the Department of the Interior $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 1994 
through 2000.''.

SEC. 15. ELIGIBILITY OF AQUACULTURE FARMERS FOR FARM CREDIT ASSISTANCE.

    Section 343 of the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act (7 
U.S.C. 1991) is amended by striking ``fish farming'' both places it 
appears in paragraphs (1) and (2) and inserting ``aquaculture (as the 
term is defined in section 3(1) of the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 
(16 U.S.C. 2802(1)))''.

SEC. 16. INTERNATIONAL AQUACULTURE INFORMATION AND DATA COLLECTION.

    Section 502 of the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978 (7 U.S.C. 5692) 
is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) International Aquaculture Information and Data Collection.--
            ``(1) In general.--The Administrator of the Foreign 
        Agricultural Service shall establish and carry out a program of 
        data collection, analysis, and dissemination of information to 
        provide continuing and timely economic information concerning 
        international aquaculture production.
            ``(2) Consultation.--In carrying out paragraph (1), the 
        Administrator shall consult with the Joint Subcommittee on 
        Aquaculture established under section 6(a) of the National 
        Aquaculture Act of 1980 (16 U.S.C. 2805(a)), and 
        representatives of the United States aquaculture industry, 
        concerning means of effectively providing data described in 
        paragraph (1) to the Joint Subcommittee and the industry.''.

SEC. 17. ELIGIBILITY OF AQUACULTURE FARMS FOR EMERGENCY CONSERVATION 
              PROGRAM.

    Section 401 of the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 (16 U.S.C. 2201) 
is amended--
            (1) by inserting ``or aquaculture farms'' after 
        ``farmlands'' both places it appears; and
            (2) by inserting ``or aquaculture farm'' after ``land'' 
        each place it appears.

SEC. 18. AQUACULTURE INFORMATION NETWORK REPORT.

    Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, 
the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to Congress on the 
feasibility and benefits of expanding current information systems at 
regional aquaculture centers established by the Secretary under section 
1475(d) of the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching 
Policy Act of 1977 (7 U.S.C. 3322(d)), universities, research 
institutions, and the National Agricultural Library to permit an on-
line link between those entities for the sharing of data, publication, 
and technical assistance information involving aquaculture.

SEC. 19. IMPLEMENTATION REPORT.

    (a) In General.--Not later than 180 days after the date of 
enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Agriculture shall report to 
Congress on the progress made in carrying out this Act and the 
amendments made by this Act.
    (b) Contents.--The report required by subsection (a) shall 
include--
            (1) a description of all programs and activities of the 
        Department of Agriculture and all other agencies and 
        Departments in support of private aquaculture;
            (2) the specific authorities for the activities described 
        in paragraph (1); and
            (3) recommendations for such actions as the Secretary of 
        Agriculture determines are necessary to improve recognition and 
        support of private aquaculture in each agency of the Department 
        of Agriculture.

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