[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 135 (Friday, August 11, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S12360]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                MEASURE WOULD FOSTER MARINE AQUACULTURE

  Mr. PELL. Mr. President, I rise as a cosponsor of the Marine 
Aquaculture Act of 1995, a measure sponsored by the junior Senator from 
Massachusetts (Mr. Kerry) to foster the growth of our marine 
aquaculture industry.
  Senator Kerry, the ranking member of the Commerce Committee Oceans 
and Fisheries Subcommittee, has done an excellent job in drafting this 
legislation to promote marine aquaculture research and the development 
of an environmentally sound marine aquaculture industry in the United 
States.
  The bill would create a coastal and marine aquaculture research and 
development program under the National Sea Grant College Program Act. 
As one of the fathers of the sea grant system, I am delighted that this 
new measure builds upon the sound and proven base of the sea grant.
  I know that this measure is designed to promote marine aquaculture, 
as distinct from other general aquaculture measures. This is an area 
that has been largely overlooked and underdeveloped in the United 
States, but that has become increasingly competitive in the 
international market.
  The United States cannot long afford to ignore the potential of 
marine aquaculture, because many of our fisheries already are 
overfished and nearing collapse. The groundfish stock off New England 
shores already has collapsed and the closures of our fisheries have hit 
hard.
  Marine aquaculture may not be a panacea, but it has the potential to 
provide both new employment opportunities and to bring some relief to 
our fisheries by developing alternate sources.
  I commend this measure to the attention of my colleagues and I 
congratulate Senator Kerry for his excellent work.

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