Date: 1985-07-29
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Speaker. I rise in support of H.R. 1544. the National Aquaculture Improvement Act of 1985. This act does two principal things: First. it extends the authorization for appropriations for the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 through fiscal years 1986. 1987. and 1988. and second. it amends the 1980 act to provide a better coordinated role for the Federal Government in promoting the development of the U.S. aquaculture industry to fully realize the potential for aquaculture development in this Nation. Mr. Speaker. this legislation is the product of cooperative efforts by the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and the Committee on Agriculture from years past to the present. H.R. 1544 reflects the combined views and agreements of the membership of our respective committees. It is a pleasure to bring this floor H.R. 1544 that takes into consideration the deverse interests. factors. and parties. resolves all differences. and results in a bill acceptable to all. Mr. Speaker. first of all. I want to compliment my distinguished colleagues from the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheriesespecially Mr. BREAUX. the very able chairman of the Subcommittee on Fisheries and Wildlife Conservation and the Environment. and the ranking minority member. Mr. DoN YOUNG. Their interest in this legislation and their commitment to further the growth and development of a domestic aquaculture industry is to be commended. I had the privilege and the pleasure of testifying before their subcommittee when this legislation was being originally considered as H.R. 2676. It is important to note that although this legislation gives the Department of Agriculture the lead role in acquaculture. it nevertheless continues to protect the rights. interests. and roles of the Departments of Commerce and the Interior. Once again. I want to thank these gentlemen and their colleagues on the full committee. for their dedication and spirit of cooperation In helping us to bring this legislation to the House. Now I would like to briefly explain why we are proposing changes -in the 1980 act. The 1980 act was written at a time when there was no clear Federal aquaculture program. There was no clearly understood policy for coordinating the research and development activities necessary for a healthy and viable aquaculture industry. It now seems clear that in drafting that pioneering law. Congress made the mistake of failing to concentrate responsibility for the new Federal effort in a single place. The 1980 act made three officialsthe Secretaries of Agriculture. Commerce. and Interiorequally responsible for developing. implementing. and coordinating Federal aquaculture policy. But one of the lessons that history teaches us is that when a lot of people are in charge. nobody is really in charge. The failure to centralize the direction of the Federal effort in aquaculture has become a substantial barrier to the effective implementation of the act. The result has been that no agency has taken the initiative to encourage and facilitate an effective Federal aquaculture program. In the opinion of our Committee on Agriculturean opinion shared by the Committee on Merchant Marine and FisheriesH.R. 1544 embodies a better way to get the job done. The key to developing a really effective Federal effort to support private industry to developing aquaculture lies in providing better coordination and leadership. This is what the National Aquaculture -Improvement Act of 1985 does. First. H.R. 1544 moves to provide both improved coordination and leadership by selecting a single Federal official to take the lead in coordinating Government operations under the act. This official will be the Secretary of Agriculture. In addition. the bill requires the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a National Aquaculture Information Center that will serve as a repository for scientific. technical. legal. and economic information relating to aquaculture. including acreages. water use. production. marketing. culture techniques. and other relevant matters. which. upon request. shall be made available to the public. While the pending legislation designates the Department of Agriculture as the lead agency for aquaculture programs. this bill also maintains important roles for the Departments of Commerce and the Interior. They must be encouraged to carry out their responsibilities and every effort must be made to be sure that Federal support for aquaculture is carried out in a manner which is fair to all geographical areas and which deals equitably with both warm and estuarine species. Mr. Speaker. some may ask. "What is so important about developing a domestic aquaculture industry?" The answer is simple. It is important because development of this industry can create jobs and can bring substantial benefits to consumers and the national economy. At present. our fishery industries do not supply our full domestic demand. and we have a very great trade deficit in fishery products. If aquaculture production is fully developed in the United States. it can cut that trade deficit and can provide more ample consumer supplies at reasonable prices. Beyond that. the products of aquaculture can be a great strategic resourcethey can play a major role in the years ahead in meeting the worlds constantly growing protein needs. Mr. Speaker. I urge the Members to join me in support of H.R. 1544. as amended.e