United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2008-05-09 monographic deposited born digital 58 p. GA 1.13:GAO-08-594 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594 P0b002ee180381de4 f:d08594 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-23 GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594 GAO-08-594 Aquaculture Environmental law Environmental monitoring Environmental policies Environmental protection Federal regulations Federal/state relations Fishery legislation Fishes Fishing industry Leases Marine policies Marine resources Marine resources conservation Marine resources development Oceanographic research Program evaluation Program management Proposed legislation Regulatory agencies Research grants Shellfish Strategic planning Sustainable fisheries Water pollution control Other Written Product A82082 U. S. aquaculture--the raising of fish and shellfish in captivity--has generally been confined to nearshore coastal waters or in other water bodies, such as ponds, that fall under state regulation. Recently, there has been an increased interest in expanding aquaculture to offshore waters, which would involve raising fish and shellfish in the open ocean, and consequently bringing these types of operations under federal regulation. While the offshore expansion has the potential to increase U.S. aquaculture production, no comprehensive legislative or regulatory framework to manage such an expansion exists. Instead, multiple federal agencies have authority to regulate different aspects of offshore aquaculture under a variety of existing laws that were not designed for this purpose. In this context, GAO was asked to identify key issues that should be addressed in the development of an effective regulatory framework for U.S. offshore aquaculture. In conducting its assessment, GAO administered a questionnaire to a wide variety of key aquaculture stakeholders; analyzed laws, regulations, and key studies; and visited states that regulate nearshore aquaculture industries. Although GAO is not making any recommendations, this review emphasizes the need to carefully consider a wide array of key issues as a regulatory framework for offshore aquaculture is developed. Agencies that provided official comments generally agreed with the report. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594.pdf GAO-08-594 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-08-594 Other Written Product GAO-08-594; Offshore Marine Aquaculture: Multiple Administrative and Environmental Issues Need to Be Addressed in Establishing a U.S. Regulatory Framework; Aquaculture Environmental law Environmental monitoring Environmental policies Environmental protection Federal regulations Federal/state relations Fishery legislation Fishes Fishing industry Leases Marine policies Marine resources Marine resources conservation Marine resources development Oceanographic research Program evaluation Program management Proposed legislation Regulatory agencies Research grants Shellfish Strategic planning Sustainable fisheries Water pollution control Volume 114 Page 647 114 Stat. 647 Public Law 106-256