[Federal Register Volume 83, Number 19 (Monday, January 29, 2018)]
[Notices]
[Pages 4026-4027]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2018-01577]


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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

National Institute of Food and Agriculture

[Docket No. NIFA-2018-001]


Notice of Public Meeting for the Interagency Working Group on 
Aquaculture

AGENCY: National Institute of Food and Agriculture, USDA.

ACTION: Notice of public meeting for the Interagency Working Group on 
Aquaculture of the Committee on Science of the National Science and 
Technology Council.

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SUMMARY: The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is publishing this notice on behalf of 
the Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture (IWGA) of the Committee on 
Science of the National Science and Technology Council to announce a 
public meeting of this group. This public meeting provides an 
opportunity for the IWGA to discuss ongoing and planned activities in 
support of aquaculture development in the United States with 
stakeholders. In turn, this meeting provides an opportunity for the 
stakeholders to discuss issues of relevance to the IWGA members in 
attendance.

DATES: The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 20, 2018 from 
1:30 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. local time (Pacific Time).

ADDRESSES: The Aquaculture America 2018 Conference will take place at 
Paris Las Vegas Hotel, 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South Las Vegas, NV 
89109. See SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION for additional information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: IWGA Chair and Aquaculture National 
Program Leader Dr. Gene Kim, USDA NIFA; email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture 
(formerly known as the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture) was created 
by the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 (Pub. L. 96-362, 94 Stat. 198, 
16 U.S.C. 2801, et seq.) and is chaired by the Department of 
Agriculture, with vice-chairs from the Department of Commerce and 
Department of the Interior. The IWGA reports to the Committee on 
Science of the National Science and Technology Council. The purpose of 
the coordinating group is to increase the overall effectiveness and 
productivity of Federal aquaculture research, transfer, and assistance 
programs. In fulfilling this purpose, the coordinating group:
    (1) Reviews the national needs for aquaculture research, technology 
transfer and technology assistance programs;
    (2) Undertakes planning, coordination, and communication among 
Federal agencies engaged in the science, engineering, and technology of 
aquaculture;
    (3) Collects, compiles, and disseminates information on 
aquaculture;
    (4) Encourages joint programs among Federal agencies in areas of 
mutual interest relating to aquaculture; and
    (5) Recommends specific actions on issues, problems, plans, and 
programs in aquaculture.
    The IWGA addresses issues of national scope and importance and may 
form national task forces or special projects to facilitate a 
coordinated, systematic approach to addressing critical issues and 
needs. More information is available at http://www.ars.usda.gov/iwga.
    This notice invites the public to participate in this IWGA meeting. 
The location is at the Aquaculture America 2018 Conference venue, which 
allows for stakeholder interaction at what likely is the largest 
gathering of U.S. aquaculture research, extension, and private sector 
representatives. Attendance or response to this notice is voluntary. We 
are not requesting information as part of an ongoing regulatory 
process. Although this will

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be a discussion of stakeholder issues of concern, will not be 
considered formal public input on regulations, as the IWGA is not a 
regulatory body. Responses to this notice may be used by the government 
for program planning on a non-attribution basis. Information obtained 
from the discussions occurring during this meeting may be used for 
program planning and federal coordination among Federal agencies, and 
may guide future Federal agencies' activities that are national in 
scope. USDA requests that no business proprietary information or 
copyrighted information be submitted in response to this notice. No 
registration or fee is needed to attend this IWGA meeting. Please note 
that there will be no other method for interaction for this meeting, 
aside from in-person attendance. Participants are encouraged, but not 
required, to email their contact information to the email address below 
for planning purposes: Dr. Maxwell Mayeaux, Aquaculture Program 
Specialist, USDA NIFA at: [email protected].
    The agenda for this meeting is as follows:

Agenda

I. Overview of Interagency Working Group on Aquaculture Activities
II. Reports on Federal Interagency Initiatives
    a. Agency updates on regulatory reform
    b. Overview of national aquaculture statistics reporting and the 
Census of Aquaculture
    c. Interagency collaboration on research, extension and outreach 
activities
    d. Other Agency Updates
III. Public questions and discussion on IWGA activities

    Done at Washington, DC, on January 19, 2018.
Sonny Ramaswamy,
Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
[FR Doc. 2018-01577 Filed 1-26-18; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 3410-22-P