June 9, 2011

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
MARINE AQUACULTURE POLICY1

PurposeThe purpose of this policy is to enable the development of sustainable marine aquaculture within
the context of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) multiple
stewardship missions and broader social and economic goals. Meeting this objective will require
NOAA to integrate environmental, social, and economic considerations in management decisions
concerning aquaculture. This policy reaffirms that aquaculture is an important component of
NOAA’s efforts to maintain healthy and productive marine and coastal ecosystems, protect
special marine areas, rebuild overfished wild stocks, restore populations of endangered species,
restore and conserve marine and coastal habitat, balance competing uses of the marine
environment, create employment and business opportunities in coastal communities, and enable
the production of safe and sustainable seafood.

Statement of Policy
For purposes of this policy, aquaculture is defined as the propagation and rearing of aquaticorganisms for any commercial, recreational, or public purpose. This definition covers all
production of finfish, shellfish, plants, algae, and other marine organisms2 for 1) food and othercommercial products; 2) wild stock replenishment for commercial and recreational fisheries; 3)
rebuilding populations of threatened or endangered species under species recovery andconservation plans; and 4) restoration and conservation of marine and Great Lakes habitat.
It is the policy of NOAA, within the context of its marine stewardship missions and its strategic
goals with respect to healthy oceans and resilient coastal communities and economies, to:
1. Encourage and foster sustainable aquaculture development that provides domestic jobs,
products, and services and that is in harmony with healthy, productive, and resilient
marine ecosystems, compatible with other uses of the marine environment, and consistent

1

The term “marine aquaculture” is used because the majority of NOAA’s aquaculture authorities and activities
relate to marine species. However, this policy applies to all of NOAA’s aquaculture authorities and activities,
including those related to marine, freshwater, and anadromous species and includes the Great Lakes.
2This definition does not include marine mammals or birds.

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with the National Policy for the Stewardship of the Ocean, our Coasts, and the Great
Lakes (National Ocean Policy).3
2. Ensure agency aquaculture decisions protect wild species and healthy, productive, andresilient coastal and ocean ecosystems, including the protecting of sensitive marine areas.
3. Advance scientific knowledge concerning sustainable aquaculture in cooperation withacademic and federal partners.
4. Make timely and unbiased aquaculture management decisions based upon the best
scientific information available.
5. Support aquaculture innovation and investments that benefit the Nation’s coastal
ecosystems, communities, seafood consumers, industry, and economy.
6. Advance public understanding of sustainable aquaculture practices; the associatedenvironmental, social, and economic challenges and benefits; and the services NOAA has
to offer in support of sustainable aquaculture.
7. Work with our Federal partners, through the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture4 andother venues, to provide the depth of resources and expertise needed to address thechallenges facing expansion of aquaculture in the United States.
8. Work internationally to learn from aquaculture best practices around the world andencourage the adoption of science-based sustainable practices and systems.
9. Integrate Federal, regional, State, local, and tribal priorities along with commercial
priorities into marine aquaculture siting and management and ensure aquaculture
development is considered within other existing and potential marine uses to reduce
potential conflicts.

Basis for the Policy
NOAA has a long history of conducting regulatory, research, outreach, and international
activities on marine aquaculture issues within the context of its missions of service, science, andenvironmental stewardship. The National Aquaculture Act of 1980, which applies to all federal
agencies, states that it is “in the national interest, and it is the national policy, to encourage thedevelopment of aquaculture in the United States.” The statutory basis for NOAA’s aquaculture
activities includes the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the3

EO 13547, which adopts the final recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force (July 19, 2010) is
available online at http://www.whitehouse.gov/oceans.
4
The Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture of the Federal Coordinating Council on Science, Engineering, andTechnology was created in the National Aquaculture Act of 1980. The purpose of the coordinating group is toincrease the overall effectiveness and productivity of Federal aquaculture research, transfer, and assistanceprograms.

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June 9, 2011
Marine Mammal Protection Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Coastal Zone Management
Act, the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, and the Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act. Under
these laws, in addition to the National Environmental Policy Act, NOAA is responsible forconsidering and preventing and/or mitigating the potential adverse environmental impacts ofplanned and existing marine aquaculture facilities through the development of fishery
management plans, sanctuary management plans, permit actions, proper siting, and consultations
with other regulatory agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels. Other statutes, including
the National Sea Grant College Program Act, the Saltonstall-Kennedy Act, the Anadromous Fish
Conservation Act, the Interjurisdictional Fisheries Act, the Merchant Marine Act, and theAgricultural Marketing Act, authorize NOAA to enable and provide assistance for both public
and private sector aquaculture. In addition, the Oceans and Human Health Act calls for research
related to aquaculture.
NOAA may engage in regulatory actions in the Exclusive Economic Zone under the authority of
the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (Magnuson-Stevens Act)through Fishery Management Plans for species in need of conservation and management.
NOAA may also engage in regulatory action under National Marine Sanctuaries Act (NMSA)
authority with respect to aquaculture activities within or potentially affecting Sanctuaries.
NOAA has a direct regulatory role for aquaculture within the sanctuaries, in both State andFederal waters, except in state waters when limited by formal written agreement with theGovernor of that State. NOAA also engages in consultations with other Federal permitting
agencies under the authority of the Endangered Species Act, Marine Mammal Protection Act, theEssential Fish Habitat provisions of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation andManagement Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and other statutes. Through the
Coastal Zone Management Act, NOAA also reviews and approves state coastal management
programs, which identify permissible uses in the coastal zone, and oversees Federal consistency
with these programs.5
In developing this policy, NOAA evaluated the application of past NOAA and Department ofCommerce aquaculture policies and planning documents and considered the specific challenges
and opportunities of today and tomorrow, drawing on the agency’s institutional knowledge of thestate of science on aquaculture and its potential impacts. In addition, NOAA considered public
input provided via an initial public comment period and a series of seven public listening
sessions during April and May 2010, and a 60-day public comment period on a public draft ofthis policy released in February 2011.6 The policy also aligns with several objectives in
NOAA’s Next Generation Strategic Plan and is a primary component of NOAA’s strategic
objective for safe and sustainable seafood.7
This policy was also informed by the National Ocean Policy and the framework for effective
coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP).8 Many of the themes found in the National Ocean
5

Some federal permit actions are subject to state review under the consistency certification provisions of the Coastal
Zone Management Act.
6
Summaries of the listening sessions and all comments submitted as public input to the development of the NOAA
aquaculture policy are posted online at http://aquaculture.noaa.gov
7
Available at http://www.ppi.noaa.gov/strategic_planning.html
8Final Recommendations of the Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force. Available online at
http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/oceans3June 9, 2011
Policy – such as protecting, maintaining, and restoring healthy and diverse ecosystems;
supporting sustainable uses of the ocean; and increasing scientific understanding and applyingthat knowledge to make better decisions – are echoed in this document. This policy also mirrors
the National Goals for CMSP, setting the stage for aquaculture to be properly considered within
the CMSP process. NOAA, as the primary bureau within the Department of Commerce with
programmatic aquaculture responsibilities, developed this policy as a complement to the broader
Department of Commerce aquaculture policy.

Background
Approximately 84 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States is imported,9 about halfof which is sourced from aquaculture. In 2009, aquaculture crossed the threshold of providing
more than half of all seafood consumed worldwide.10 However, domestic aquaculture provides
only about 5 percent of the seafood consumed in the United States.11 Growing U.S. andworldwide demand for seafood is likely to continue as a result of increases in population andconsumer awareness of seafood’s health benefits. The most recent Federal Dietary Guidelines
for Americans (2010) recommend Americans more than double their current seafood
consumption.12 Because wild stocks are not projected to meet increased demand even withrebuilding efforts, future increases in supply are likely to come either from foreign aquaculture
or increased domestic aquaculture production, or some combination of both.
The existing domestic marine aquaculture community is mainly comprised of shellfish growing,
but also includes finfish and algae production in coastal waters and hatchery production of fishand shellfish to replenish stocks of important commercial, recreational, and endangered species
and to restore marine habitat (e.g., oyster reefs). Emerging technologies for marine aquaculture
include land-based closed-recirculating systems, marine algae production technologies forbiofuels and non-food products, systems that integrate different types of aquaculture or combine
aquaculture with other uses, and systems in exposed open-ocean waters.
Federal support, engagement, and authorities related to aquaculture development span a numberof agencies, in particular the Food and Drug Administration, Environmental Protection Agency,
Army Corps of Engineers, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
These agencies collaborate with each other, industry, states, and academia to address issues
related to aquaculture facilities13 and to promote the development of new technologies that9

Source: U.S Department of Commerce, Fisheries of the United States 2009.
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. (2009). FISHSTAT Plus: Universal Software for Fishery
Statistical Time Series (Food and Agriculture Organization, Rome). Version 2.32. This figure includes both
freshwater and marine production.
11
This figure includes both freshwater and marine production. Not included in this figure is the amount of salmon
produced in Alaska by regional aquaculture associations and others in Alaska’s salmon stock enhancement program.
In 2009, Alaska’s salmon aquaculture stock enhancement programs produced over 45 million salmon, mostly pink
and chum salmon.
12
See www.mypyramid.gov
13
A recent example is the National Aquatic Animal Health Plan, which was developed in response to the growing
need for a coordinated government effort to ensure aquatic animal health. See
http://aquaculture.noaa.gov/news/naahp.html
104June 9, 2011
improve the sustainability of the industry. This policy sets the stage for NOAA’s continued
involvement in these coordinated efforts.

Benefits and Challenges
As interest in commercial aquaculture production and wild species restoration in the marine
environment has increased, so too has debate about the potential economic, environmental, andsocial effects of aquaculture – and the need for better public understanding with respect to theseissues. Benefits of sustainable aquaculture may include species and habitat restoration andconservation; nutrient removal; provision of safe, local seafood that contributes to food security
and human health and nutrition; increased production of low trophic-level seafood; and synergies
with fishing (e.g., using fish processing trimmings in aquaculture feeds). Sustainableaquaculture can also contribute economic and social benefits by creating jobs in local
communities and helping to maintain the cultural identity of working waterfronts.
Environmental challenges posed by aquaculture, depending upon the type, scope, and location of
aquaculture activity, may include nutrient and chemical wastes, water use demands, aquatic
animal diseases and invasive species, potential competitive and genetic effects on wild species,
effects on endangered or protected species, effects on protected and sensitive marine areas,
effects on habitat for other species, and the use of forage fish for aquaculture feeds. Economic
and social challenges may include market competition affecting the viability of domestic
aquaculture and/or the prices U.S. fishermen receive for their wild seafood products; competition
with other uses of the marine environment; degraded habitats and ecosystem services; andimpacts to diverse cultural traditions and values.
Growing consumer demand for safe, local, and sustainably produced seafood, increasing energy
costs, increasing seafood demand in countries that currently export seafood to the United States,and growing interest in maintaining working waterfronts are emerging drivers that support
sustainable domestic aquaculture production. U.S. aquaculture production – both small-scaleand large-scale – has evolved and improved over time through regulations at the Federal andState levels, scientific advancements, consumer demand, technological innovation, industry best
management practices, and protocols for responsible stock replenishment and hatchery practices.
This policy will allow NOAA to further advance these developments through the actions
described below.

NOAA Aquaculture Priorities
To implement the Statement of Policy, NOAA has identified the following priorities:
Science and Research•

Expand NOAA’s research portfolio to (1) provide the necessary ecological,
technological, economic, and social data and analysis to effectively and sustainably
develop, support, manage, and regulate private and public sector marine aquaculture andspecies restoration, including technologies deemed necessary under recovery and5June 9, 2011conservation plans for depleted, threatened, and endangered species and habitat; (2)monitor, assess, and address the environmental and socioeconomic effects of marine
aquaculture, including cumulative impacts; and (3) complement the scientific work of ourfederal, state, and academic partners.
•

Evaluate alternative protein and lipid sources to be used in lieu of wild fish and fish oil inaquaculture feeds and develop cost-effective alternative feeds that maintain the humanhealth benefits of seafood and reduce reliance on the use of wild forage fish in the dietsof farmed fish.

•

Develop and evaluate the cost-effectiveness of methodologies to prevent, minimize, andmitigate potential adverse ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts of aquaculture.

•

Monitor and assess the effects of ocean acidification and climate change on marine
aquaculture and develop adaptation strategies.

Regulation•

Actively engage Federal agencies, Fishery Management Councils, Federal advisory
councils or committees, coastal states, tribes, other stakeholders, and Congress to clarify
NOAA’s regulatory authority related to aquaculture in Federal waters in the context ofother Federal, State, state, and tribal authorities and to establish a coordinated,comprehensive, science-based, transparent, and efficient regulatory program, taking into
account relevant international standards, as appropriate, for aquaculture in Federal waters
consistent with the President’s Executive Order on Improving Regulation and Regulatory
Review.

•

Work with Federal, State, local, tribal, and regional agencies and organizations to clarify
regulatory requirements and to establish coordinated, comprehensive, science-based,transparent, and efficient processes for permit reviews, permit consultations, and otherregulatory and management actions for marine aquaculture in state waters – taking into
account existing authorities, international standards, and regional, State, and local goals,
policies, and objectives.

•

Engage in coastal and marine spatial planning with other agencies and jurisdictions,
including the Regional Planning Bodies being created under the National Ocean Council,
to ensure siting of marine aquaculture that reduces conflicts among competing uses,
minimize adverse impacts on the environment, and identify activities for potential colocation with aquaculture operations.

Innovation, Partnerships, and Outreach•

Collaborate with Federal partners, coastal communities, States, tribes, the aquacultureindustry, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to transition innovative
aquaculture technologies from laboratory studies to commercial and restoration projects
and document and assess their environmental, ecosystem, and socioeconomic impacts.

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Focus on projects that will create jobs in coastal communities, produce healthful local
seafood, revitalize working waterfronts, support traditional fishing communities, avoid
impacts to protected areas, and restore depleted species and habitat.
•

Work with extension and outreach services to interpret technical and scientific data andprovide informational products to transfer that knowledge to other stakeholders and the
public.

•Support restoration and commercial shellfish aquaculture initiatives to restore shellfish
populations that provide locally produced food and jobs, help improve water quality, andrestore and conserve coastal habitat.

•

Develop synergies among NOAA’s fisheries management, enforcement, financial
assistance, aquaculture, seafood inspection, Coastal Zone Management, National Marine
Sanctuaries, and National Sea Grant programs to rebuild wild fish stocks and support
alternative or supplemental economic options for fishermen.

•

Engage within the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture and National Ocean Council topromote coordination among Federal agencies on marine aquaculture regulatory andscience issues and pursue opportunities for collaboration, such as integrating aquaculture
with other ocean uses and using aquaculture facilities as a platform for morecomprehensive environmental monitoring.

International Cooperation•

Work with other Federal agencies to establish a coordinated, consistent, andcomprehensive international strategy on sustainable marine aquaculture that supports andis consistent with U.S. policies and priorities regarding food security, international trade,healthy oceans, and economic well-being.

•

Work with other nations, as appropriate, to adopt sustainable aquaculture and seafood
safety approaches using the best practices.

•

Exchange scientific insights with other nations and promote joint participation incooperative research that is of potential multinational value, including addressing impactsof aquaculture that breach international boundaries.

Implementation and Periodic Review
NOAA will begin to implement this policy immediately upon release. This policy will
henceforth guide all NOAA activities with respect to marine aquaculture, until such time as it isamended or rescinded by the NOAA Administrator.

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June 9, 2011
Appendices
NOAA will take a tiered approach with respect to this policy and may publish more detailed
policies related to specific authority to regulate aquaculture activities. These tiered documents
will be included as appendices to the overarching policy.
Appendix 1. NOAA Guidance for Aquaculture in Federal Waters
Appendix 1 establishes goals NOAA’s regulatory actions with respect to aquaculture production
in federal waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, and provides a list of principles andapproaches that NOAA will take to achieve each goal. In the future, NOAA will be identifying
specific actions to be taken to implement each goal.

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APPENDIX 1NOAA GUIDANCE FOR AQUACULTURE IN FEDERAL WATERS

The purpose of this appendix is to establish a set of goals to guide NOAA’s regulatory andprogrammatic actions with respect to aquaculture production in Federal waters of the U.S.
Exclusive Economic Zone and to provide a list of implementing actions that NOAA will take toachieve each goal. NOAA will take these actions to the extent of the agency’s discretion andfunding availability under relevant authorities and in coordination with our Federal partners.
These goals and implementing actions are an extension of the NOAA Aquaculture Policy, whichapplies broadly to all marine aquaculture-related activities at NOAA.
Goal 1. Ecosystem compatibility – Aquaculture development in Federal waters iscompatible with the functioning of healthy, productive, and resilient marine ecosystems.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- developing, implementing, and enforcing ecosystem-based conservation andmanagement measures for aquaculture that fulfill the agency’s marine stewardship
responsibilities to protect and restore healthy coastal and ocean ecosystems and toconserve living marine resources, their habitats, and other protected areas- developing, implementing, and enforcing conservation and management measures foraquaculture designed to maintain the health, genetics, habitats, and populations of wild
species; maintain water quality; prevent escapes and accidental discharges into theenvironment; and avoid harmful interactions with wild fish stock, marine mammals,
birds, and protected species- pursuing efforts to restore wild stocks- supporting the use of only native or naturalized species in Federal waters unless best
available science demonstrates use of non-native or other species in Federal waters
would not cause undue harm to wild species, habitats, or ecosystems in the event of an
escape- employing science-based adaptive management- taking into account the cumulative impacts of aquaculture throughout all trophic levelsof the marine environment and in combination with the impacts of other activities- encouraging the use of aquaculture feeds that either use fish from sustainably managed
fisheries or alternative protein and lipid sources- considering interactions with marine resources managed by other agencies andjurisdictions- conducting programmatic or site-specific reviews of impacts related to proposed
facilities in federal waters in compliance with National Environmental Policy Act
requirements

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Goal 2. Compatibility with other uses – Aquaculture facilities in Federal waters are sitedand operated in a manner that is compatible with other authorized uses of the marine
environment.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- coordinating with other agencies to develop tools to properly site aquaculture in Federalwaters, including tools to reduce conflicts among competing uses and identify activities
for potential co-location with aquaculture operations, in the context of regional andnational coastal and marine spatial planning (CMSP) activities and ecosystemcompatibility goals- incorporating the preferences of states in decisions about aquaculture development inFederal waters- facilitating discussions among interested aquaculture developers, concerned Stateagencies, Fishery Management Councils, tribes, other Federal agencies, Federal advisorycommittees, and the public as early as possible in project planning and development- promoting the safety of human life at sea and providing situational awareness for thoseworking on offshore aquaculture operations, including coastal and marine forecasts andmarine navigation weather
Goal 3. Best available science and information – Management decisions for aquaculture inFederal waters are based upon the best available science and information.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- basing management decisions on best available scientific information – including
biological, technological, ecological, economic, and social data – in management
decisions- synthesizing and delivering information on the current state of scientific understanding
about the observed and potential impacts and benefits of open ocean aquaculture- identifying gaps and uncertainties associated with the current body of knowledge andtaking these uncertainties into account in agency decisions- conducting and supporting scientific studies to inform agency decision-makers on open
ocean aquaculture technologies, practices, benefits, costs, and risks and to develop new
and improve existing sustainable practices and products- monitoring, evaluating, and maintaining databases on the impacts of aquaculture,including cumulative impacts, on biodiversity, predator-prey relationships, and otherimportant characteristics of healthy and productive ecosystems- working with State and Federal agencies, academia, tribes, and other entities to improvescientific understanding of the effects of open ocean aquaculture and to develop costeffective open ocean aquaculture technologies and practices that prevent, minimize, or
mitigate negative environmental or societal effects- updating and adapting conservation and management measures to reflect the best
available scientific information- incorporating the insights gained by other countries that actively participate in open
ocean aquaculture activities

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Goal 4. Social and economic benefits – Investments in sustainable aquaculture in Federalwaters provide a net benefit to the Nation’s economy, coastal communities, and seafood
consumers while considering regional and state goals and objectives.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- creating opportunities for new aquaculture jobs and economic growth for U.S.
communities that complement commercial and recreational fishing, maintain andrevitalize working waterfronts, provide upstream and downstream economic
opportunities throughout the U.S. economy and provide additional domestic seafood
choices for U.S. consumers- assessing the food safety and human health effects of consumption of aquaculture
products (foreign and domestic) in coordination with other Federal agencies- making the agency’s fee-for-service seafood inspection services available to aquaculture
producers operating in Federal waters- assessing the likely positive and negative social, economic, and cultural impacts ofmanagement decisions, individually and cumulatively, over both the short and long term,on permit applicants, individual communities, the group of all affected communities
identified, and the U.S. economy, including impacts on employment and the economic
viability of working waterfronts- identifying, developing, and supporting mitigation measures to address social, economic,
and cultural impacts
Goal 5. Industry Accountability – To secure long-term access to operate aquaculture
facilities in Federal waters, operators are held accountable for protecting theenvironment, wild species, and human safety and for conducting and reporting ongoing
monitoring.
NOAA will achieve this goal by working with Federal agencies and other partners to develop
an appropriate framework through which operators of aquaculture facilities will:- conduct a baseline environmental analysis of the proposed site prior to permit review- prepare and implement a broodstock management plan, an aquatic animal health plan,
and a contingency plan for responding to emergencies- prepare, obtain Federal approval for, and comply with an operating plan that uses
recognized best management practices to ensure good husbandry, biosecurity, predator
control, and maintenance practices that minimize the number and frequency of escapes,
disease outbreaks, noise impacts, and entanglements- prepare, obtain Federal approval for, and comply with a monitoring plan to meet all
monitoring and reporting requirements, including reports of escapes, disease outbreaks,
drug or chemical applications, nutrient discharges, and other environmental monitoring as
required by NOAA or other Federal agencies- incorporate environmentally efficient and responsible management practices that limit
inputs and waste discharges into the environment from drugs, chemicals, feeds, etc.
- allow regular inspection of facilities by authorized officers- provide, upon request, evidence of compliance with applicable laws, including those
governing use of drugs and feeds and other operational details that are under thejurisdiction of other agencies

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- provide evidence of an assurance bond to address facility removal and site remediation- safely remove facilities and organisms once operations end and, to the extent necessary
and practicable, restore environmental conditions of the site
- ensure the safety of human life at sea
Goal 6. Approval process – Management decisions for aquaculture operations in Federalwaters are made in an efficient and transparent manner that produces timely, unbiased,
and scientifically based decisions.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- implementing efficient, coordinated, transparent, and timely processes for science-based
permit review and issuance and making easily understood information about thepermitting process and requirements available on the agency’s website- reducing regulatory uncertainty and minimizing unnecessary regulatory burden on
individuals, private or public organizations, or Federal, State, tribal, or local governments- coordinating permit review, approval, and enforcement, both internally and with other
Federal agencies, to ensure compliance with existing regulatory requirements and tofoster an efficient and timely regulatory process- providing public notice and opportunities for Fishery Management Council, State, tribal,
local government and stakeholder input on agency management decisions- providing leadership in conducting periodic reviews of Federal statutory and regulatory
requirements to identify gaps or overlaps in Federal authority, clarify Federal agency
roles and responsibilities, and develop streamlined processes for authorizing aquaculture
and enforcing regulatory requirements in Federal waters, in consultation with Congress,
other Federal agencies, Fishery Management Councils, and States
Goal 7. Public information – The public has an accurate understanding of sustainableaquaculture development in Federal waters and the associated environmental, social, andeconomic challenges and benefits; monitoring information is readily available to the public.
NOAA will achieve this goal by:- developing, widely disseminating, and effectively communicating regional and national
informational materials on the merits, trade-offs, technologies, species, and practices used
to conduct aquaculture in Federal waters- making publicly available – in a timely manner and in accordance with applicablestandards for transparency and confidentiality – monitoring data, results, and information
submitted by aquaculture facilities operating in Federal waters, analyses of the datareported by aquaculture operators in Federal waters, and the results of research conductedby NOAA and others- communicating to the public, through extension or other outreach services, new researchfindings, particularly those from local research and demonstration projects

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