[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 66 (Tuesday, April 24, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E842-E843]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     INTRODUCTION OF THE NATIONAL OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE ACT OF 2007

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                        HON. NICK J. RAHALL, II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 24, 2007

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Speaker, today I am introducing by request the 
Administration's National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007. This bill 
would authorize the Secretary of Commerce to establish and implement a 
regulatory system for offshore aquaculture in the United States 
Exclusive Economic Zone.
  I commend Secretary Carlos Gutierrez for his leadership, and 
initiating the debate on aquaculture. While I do not agree with many 
provisions in this legislation, I think it is important for Congress to 
take a serious look at marine aquaculture and see if it is possible to 
establish a program that makes economic and environmental sense.
  At the moment, there are no aquaculture projects in U.S. Federal 
waters, but there are successful farming operations onshore. In my 
state, West Virginians are successfully raising arctic char, a fish 
tasting similar to salmon.
  The Department of Commerce believes aquaculture has the potential to 
meet our growing demand for seafood. The United States imports more 
than 80 percent of its seafood, and half of our imports are fish 
farmed. With a successful aquaculture program in place, the United 
States could reduce its $8 billion trade deficit in seafood, according 
to the recent report from the Marine Aquaculture Task Force. 
Additionally, aquaculture could help alleviate the overushing and 
exploitation of fisheries world wide.
  The aquaculture industry claims the United States is technologically 
and economically ready to venture into offshore waters to farm fish. 
Done responsibly, with strict environmental standards, offshore 
aquaculture has the potential to address the growing demand for 
seafood, provide jobs, relieve pressure on some of our wild fish 
stocks, and perhaps even help to replenish some depleted fish stocks.
  Again, I commend Secretary Gutierrez for his leadership and look 
forward to working with him to ensure that offshore aquaculture 
production occurs in a manner that is both economically and 
environmentally sustainable.
  As we have heard from both national ocean commissions, the oceans are 
in trouble. We must be very careful that offshore aquaculture

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does not further jeopardize the health of our oceans in any way.

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