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U. S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
AQUACULTURE POLICY
PurposeThe purpose of this policy is to support the development of sustainable aquaculture within thecontext of the Department of Commerce’s (DOC) goals of encouraging economic growth andemployment opportunities in the United States and of enhancing United States competitivenessin, and exports to, global markets. This policy applies to a broad range of responsibilities at
DOC relating to trade, technology, innovation and entrepreneurship, economic development, andenvironmental stewardship. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which isthe primary bureau within DOC with programmatic aquaculture responsibilities, has a moredetailed marine aquaculture policy that complements this overarching policy.
For purposes of this policy, aquaculture is defined as the propagation and rearing of aquaticorganisms for commercial, recreational, or public purposes. This definition covers all authorized
production of finfish, shellfish, plants, algae, and other aquatic organisms 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 aquatic habitat.
The U.S. aquaculture industry (currently valued at about $1 billion/year) is dominated by theproduction of freshwater fish for human consumption. The marine aquaculture segment (about20 percent of current production) is mainly comprised of shellfish, but also includes farming offinfish and algae in coastal waters and on land. Another major component of U.S aquaculture ishatchery production to replenish stocks of important commercial, recreational, and endangered
species and to restore habitat (e.g., oyster reefs). Emerging technologies include land-based
recirculating systems, algal rearing technologies for production of biofuels and other non-foodproducts, systems that integrate different types of aquaculture or combine aquaculture with otheruses, and systems in exposed open-ocean waters.
Aquaculture in the United States can make major contributions to the local, regional, andnational economies by providing employment and diverse business opportunities from coastal
communities to the agricultural heartland. By implementing this policy and working withpartners, including the Department of Agriculture, U.S. Food and Drug Administration,
Department of the Interior, and the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture, DOC can also help tomake the United States a world leader in developing, demonstrating, and employing innovativeand sustainable aquaculture technologies and in encouraging worldwide adoption of sustainableaquaculture practices and systems.
BackgroundFisheries and seafood are important components of American life. In 2007, Americans
consumed a total of nearly 5 billion pounds of seafood, which equates to approximately 16pounds per person per year. The most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2010)1

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recommend that Americans more than double their current seafood consumption, from 3 ½
ounces per week to 8 ounces per week and that women who are pregnant or breast feeding
consume 8-12 ounces of seafood per week from a variety of seafood products.1 The UnitedStates is the third largest consumer of seafood in the world and demand exceeds domestic
supply. Currently, the United States imports 84 percent of its seafood, and about half of thoseimports are from aquaculture.2 The current trade deficit in seafood is approximately $9 billion.
Growth of domestic aquaculture would support fishing and agricultural communities and newaquaculture-based industries in the United States.
Statement of Policy
It is the policy of the DOC, consistent with the overarching National Aquaculture Act of 1980,
to:1) Create a business climate and technological base that encourages and fosters the developmentof sustainable aquaculture in the United States that provides domestic jobs, products, andservices while conserving aquatic resources.

2) Encourage and foster environmentally sound and sustainable aquaculture innovation thatincreases the value of domestic aquaculture production and creates American business, jobs,and trade opportunities.
3) Ensure agency aquaculture decisions protect wild species and healthy, productive, andresilient coastal and ocean ecosystems, including the protecting of sensitive marine areas.
4) Advance scientific knowledge to develop and refine aquaculture technologies and methods toimprove production, safeguard the environment, and sustain local food and cultural benefits,
in cooperation with federal, state, local and tribal and academic partners.
5) Encourage and foster the development and application of aquaculture technologies thatprovide economic and/or ecological value by enhancing or restoring depleted, threatened,
and endangered wild fish stocks and restoring habitat (e.g., oyster reefs).
6) Support the National Export Initiative by promoting a level playing field for U.S. aquaculturebusinesses to engage in international trade, working to remove foreign trade barriers andenforcing our rights under U.S. trade agreements.
7) Work collaboratively with our federal, state, regional, local, academic, and business partners
to support the development of sustainable aquaculture in locations compatible with otheruses.
1

See www.mypyramid.gov
See 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. See also U.S. Department of Commerce, Fisheries of the United States 2009.

22DraftJune 9, 20118) Exchange scientific insights with other nations and promote joint participation in cooperative
research that is of potential multinational value, including addressing impacts of aquaculturethat breach international boundaries.
9) Advance public understanding of environmental, social, and economic benefits andchallenges of sustainable aquaculture.

Policy Implementation
To implement this policy, the DOC and its bureaus will work in partnership with other Federal
agencies, Congress, state, local, and tribal governments, industry, academia, non-governmentalorganizations, and other stakeholders at the national, regional, and local levels to:1) Deliver U.S. government services to aquaculture and related industries in a comprehensive
and coordinated manner.
2) Provide technical assistance to state and local governments to help plan and develop marine
resource infrastructure needs including in coastal communities.
3) Accelerate the implementation of sustainable aquaculture production methods bydeveloping pilot, demonstration, and technology transfer projects with seafood and relatedindustries, nongovernmental organizations, state and local governments, federal agencies,
and other partners.
4) Enhance the capabilities of federal research laboratories and participating research partners
to provide the necessary ecological, technological, economic, and social data and analysis
to effectively and sustainably develop, support, manage, and regulate private and public
sector aquaculture.
5) Develop an efficient, coordinated, transparent, and timely science-based permitting process
and regulatory structure to ensure that marine aquaculture facilities are properly designed
and sited and incorporate appropriate technologies and practices to minimize adverseimpacts.

The Department of Commerce will begin to implement this policy immediately upon release ofthis document. This policy will guide the Department and its bureaus actions with respect tomarine aquaculture, until such time as it is amended or rescinded by the Secretary of Commerce.

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