[Federal Register Volume 77, Number 134 (Thursday, July 12, 2012)]
[Notices]
[Pages 41164-41165]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2012-17051]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Research Service
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
RIN 0648-XC007
Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture Research and Development
Strategic Plan
AGENCIES: Agricultural Research Service (ARS), U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA); National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice of availability and request for comments.
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SUMMARY: NOAA and U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research
Service (USDA-ARS) announce on behalf of the Federal Interagency
Working Group on Aquaculture under the Office of Science and Technology
Policy that a draft National Aquaculture Research and Development
Strategic Plan (R&D Plan) for the United States is being made available
for public review and comment. This plan will provide a framework for
federal agencies to develop programs for research and development that
affect the production of aquatic organisms such as finfish,
crustaceans, mollusks, and algae. We are soliciting public comment in
regard to priorities, vision, and goals. Please be specific regarding
what section or content in the R&D plan your comment refers. The draft
R&D plan can be found at http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/programs/programs.htm?np_code=106&docid=22641.
DATES: Written comments must be received by 5 p.m. Eastern Standard
Time (EST), August 27, 2012.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this action identified by NOAA-
NMFS-2012-0136 by either of the following methods:
Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the federal e-Rulemaking Portal, http://www.regulations.gov. To submit comments via the e-Rulemaking Portal,
first enter NOAA-NMFS-2012-0136 in the keyword search. Locate the
document you wish to comment on from the resulting list and click on
the ``Submit a Comment'' icon on that line. You may also view
supporting and related materials. All comments received are a part of
the public record and will generally be posted to http://www.regulations.gov without change. All personal identifying
information (for example, name, address, etc.) voluntarily submitted by
the commenter may be publicly accessible. Do not submit confidential
business information or otherwise sensitive or protected information.
The agency will accept anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the
required fields, if you wish to remain anonymous). You may submit
attachments to electronic comments in Microsoft Word, Excel,
WordPerfect, or Adobe PDF file formats only.
Mail/Commercial Delivery: Please send two copies of your
comment to RIN 0648-XC007, Dr. Jeff Silverstein, USDA-ARS, National
Program Leader-Aquaculture, 5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 4-2106,
Beltsville, MD 20705. Please state that your comment refers to RIN
0648-XC007.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: ARS: Dr. Jeffrey Silverstein, National
Program Leader for Aquaculture, USDA-ARS Office of National Programs,
5601 Sunnyside Ave., Room 4-2106, Beltsville, MD 20705; (301) 504-5925.
NMFS: Dr. Michael Rubino, Director, Office of Aquaculture, NOAA
Fisheries, 1315 East-West Hwy, SSMC3 Rm. 13137, Silver Spring,
MD 20910; (301) 427-8325. To receive a hard copy of the R&D Plan please
contact Dr. Jeff Silverstein.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Aquaculture is the production of finfish,
shellfish, algae, plants, and other aquatic organisms (except mammals
and birds) for (1) food and other commercial products; (2) wild stock
replenishment for commercial or recreational fisheries; (3) rebuilding
populations of threatened or endangered species under species recovery
and conservation plans; and (4) restoration and conservation of aquatic
and marine habitat.
The National Aquaculture Act (Pub. L. 96-362, 94 Stat. 1198, 16
U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and the National Aquaculture Improvement Act
(Pub. L. 99-198, 99 Stat. 1641) were passed to promote aquaculture in
the Nation by:
1. Declaring a national aquaculture policy to encourage development
of aquaculture in the United States,
2. Calling for the establishment and implementation of a national
aquaculture development plan, and
3. Encouraging aquaculture activities and programs in both the
public and private sectors of the economy that will result in increased
aquacultural production, coordination of domestic aquaculture efforts,
conservation and enhancement of aquatic resources, and creation of new
industries and job opportunities.
The legislation emphasizes the need for government-wide
coordination of national activities regarding aquaculture. To this end,
it established a federal interagency aquaculture coordinating group
within the Office of Science and Technology Policy that operates as the
Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA).
The JSA prepared an R&D Plan to help shape, focus, and coordinate
interagency research and development efforts on the highest-priority
strategic goals and crosscutting objectives over 5-10 years that will
encourage aquaculture development and uses in the Nation.
The JSA R&D Plan envisions ``a globally competitive,
technologically appropriate, and diverse aquaculture sector in the
United States that meets increasing demand for seafood and products
that are affordable and meet high standards for safety, quality, and
environmental stewardship, with maximum opportunity for profitability
and economic growth. A critical element of this vision is that the
aquaculture sector develops in concert with, natural ecosystems that
support recreational, fishery, and environmental services needs.''
The R&D Plan identifies nine strategic goals:
1. Advance Integration of Aquaculture Development and Environmental
Conservation.
2. Employ Genetics to Increase Productivity and Protect Natural
Populations.
3. Improve Aquatic Animal Health.
4. Improve Production Efficiency and Well-being.
5. Improve Nutrition and Develop Novel Feeds.
6. Increase Supply of Nutritious, Safe, High-quality Seafood.
7. Introduce Innovative Production Systems.
8. Create Skilled Workforce and Effective Technology Transfer.
9. Integrate Economic and Social Sciences.
[[Page 41165]]
Each goal, along with its outcomes, milestones, and performance
measures, is described in detail within the R&D Plan.
Dated: July 9, 2012.
Michael Rubino,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, National Marine Fisheries Service.
Dated: July 2, 2012.
Jeffrey Silverstein,
National Program Leader for Aquaculture, USDA-ARS Office of National
Programs.
[FR Doc. 2012-17051 Filed 7-11-12; 8:45 am]
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