The National Marine Aquaculture Initiative
A robust aquaculture industry in the United States can help meet the seafood needs of the U.S. market, reduce seafood imports, create new jobs, improve food safety and security, enhance wild stocks, and restore marine habitat. Marine aquaculture has been slow to develop in the United States for a variety of reasons, including multiple-use conflicts in the coastal zone, difficult and expensive permit and licensing processes, and a lack of technologies.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) launched the National Marine Aquaculture Initiative (NMAI) in 1998, to help resolve the issues standing in the way of the development of a marine aquaculture industry. Since its launch, NMAI has provided funding to address a broad range of topics, including aquaculture policy and regulation, offshore aquaculture, marine recirculating systems, shellfish farming, and new species research. In 2006, NOAA will award up to $4 million in grants under the initiative. For more information on the NMAI 2006, click here.
NOAA, though NMAI, encourages dynamic partnerships to channel resources toward the development of environmentally sustainable aquaculture technologies. Projects often involve partnerships between commercial companies, research institutions, universities, state governments and coastal communities. For more information on NMAI projects, view past projects sorted by TOPIC or sorted by YEAR.