Successful commercial aquaculture usually implies a highly intensive management system that often results in nutrient-rich effluents. Federal, state, and provincial agencies should cooperate to ensure the health of aquatic organisms, control the transfer and introduction of aquatic organisms, and inspect processing plants and fish and fish products to safeguard human health. Use of organisms native to each facility's region is strongly encouraged. When commercially cultured fish are considered for stocking, every consideration should be given to protecting the genetic integrity of native fishes. Aquaculture facilities should meet prevailing environmental standards.
Aquaculture is a form of agriculture.
The principle responsibility for development of aquaculture is in the private sector. Government should support these initiatives directly through research and development, fish inspection, and fish health certification, and indirectly by reducing unnecessary regulatory constraints, mediating in resource user conflicts, and coordinating the involvement of a diversity of government departments. Interagency cooperation and coordination of state, provincial, and federal fisheries and aquaculture programs. Passage of aquaculture legislation which creates coherent federal, state, and provincial aquaculture programs and appropriation of funds to implement the legislation. Passage or amendment of food safety legislation to establish fish inspection programs to ensure the safety and quality of aquacultural products.