News and Notices
A lucky angler displays his red porgy, a rare catch that may soon become more available thanks to aquaculture research being done at NOAA. [Photo credit: John Stout]
Aquaculture is a dynamic issue. New federal legislation is being considered by Congress, new technologies are being tested, new projects are underway and milestones are being marked. This page provides links to reports, press releases, press statements, and other information related to U.S. marine fisheries and aquaculture, and the activities of the NOAA Aquaculture Program. The items are presented in reverse chronological order so the most recent links are listed at the top.
2008 I 2007 I 2006 I 2005 I 2004 I
JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUNE
June
June 12, 2008
NOAA Hosts National Shellfish Symposium
On Monday and Tuesday, the NOAA Aquaculture and Habitat Conservation programs hosted the 2008 National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment in Warwick, Rhode Island. NOAA Deputy Undersecretary for Oceans and Atmosphere Timothy Keeney opened the symposium, along with Dr. Michael Rubino (Aquaculture Program) and Brian Pawlak (Habitat Conservation). Organized by Dr. Sandy Shumway of the University of Connecticut, the symposium attracted representatives from the shellfish industry, non-government organizations, researchers, and federal and state officials. U.S. Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island was a featured speaker on the first day of the meeting. In his remarks, Senator Reed highlighted the proactive approach the Ocean State is taking to ensure a sustainable aquaculture industry and protect the marine environment. Information generated by the symposium will be used to facilitate public policy and resource management decisions for shellfish culture in the U.S. A summary of the meeting will be available later this year.
May
May 20, 2008
The Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is seeking grant proposals for the construction of science research buildings from institutions of higher education and non-profit organizations. The agency announced today on the Grants.gov Web site that it will award approximately $29 million in congressionally directed funding for a special one-time competitive grant program. Awards are expected to range in size from approximately $10 million to $15 million. The deadline for applications is 3 p.m. ET, July 21, 2008. Click here for more information.
May 19, 2008
NOAA Fisheries Annual Business Report Highlights Aquaculture
The NOAA Aquaculture Program’s 2007 initiatives, including the National Marine Aquaculture Summit, the National Offshore Aquaculture Act, the 10-Year Plan for Aquaculture, and the NOAA-USDA Alternative Feeds Initiative are all highlighted in the annual NOAA Fisheries Business Report. The annual report, which was released earlier this month, provides an overview of agency’s major activities and accomplishments from the previous year.
May 16, 2008
37th Annual UJNR Meeting Announced
The 37th annual United States - Japan Natural Resources Panel on Aquaculture (UJNR) meeting will take place October 27 - November 1, 2008 in Yokohama, Japan. This annual meeting is part of ongoing efforts to facilitate communication between the scientific communities of the United States and Japan, and has helped in the development various aquaculture techniques over time.
May 9, 2008
GAO Releases Report on Offshore Marine Aquaculture
On May 9, 2008, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report on aquaculture, “Offshore Marine Aquaculture: Multiple Administrative and Environmental Issues Need to Be Addressed in Establishing a U.S. Regulatory Framework”. The major findings highlight the need for a comprehensive regulatory framework for marine aquaculture in federal waters. The findings also highlight the need for additional research, which is consistent with recommendations from the 2007 National Marine Aquaculture Summit and the priorities identified in NOAA’s 10-Year Plan for Marine Aquaculture.
May 1, 2009
Alternative Feeds Stakeholder Meeting Draws Over 60 Participants
On April 30, NOAA’s Aquaculture Program hosted the NOAA-USDA National Stakeholder Meeting on Alternative Feeds for Aquaculture in Silver Spring, Maryland. Over 60 participants representing aquaculture producers, the aquaculture feeds industry, private research consortiums, other federal agencies, academia, and non-government organizations focused on research priorities for promising alternatives to fish meal and oil in aquaculture diets. The meeting was moderated by Dr. Paul Sandifer, Senior Scientist for Coastal Ecology for NOAA’s Ocean Service, and presenters included Dr. Charles Santerre of Purdue University, Dr. Jane Lubchenco of Oregon State University, Dr. Diane Bellis of Ag Source, Inc. and Richard Nelson of Silver Cup Feeds. The presentations from the meeting have been posted online.
April
April 14, 2008
New Stock Enhancement Publications are Available
As a valuable fisheries management tool, stock enhancement is an often overlooked area of aquaculture. This page links to an updated list of research publications from the Science Consortium for Ocean Replenishment (SCORE), a history of stock enhancement in the United States, and a selected list of marine stock enhancement research taking place in the United States.
April 10, 2008
NOAA Researchers Hope to Bring Red Porgy to a Table Near You
Researchers at NOAA's Beaufort Lab in North Carolina are working to optimize hatchery production methods for red porgy so that this valuable species may eventually be ready for pilot-scale farming in net pens or in tanks. Because stocks in the Atlantic Ocean are considered overfished and market values are high, red porgy is an exciting candidate for aquaculture.
March
March 27, 2008
On March 31, 2008, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), issued a broad invitation to attend the NOAA-USDA National Stakeholder Meeting on Alternative Feeds for Aquaculture. The meeting will be held on April 30, 2008, from 11:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at NOAA Headquarters, 1325 East-West Highway (Building 2), Room 2358, in Silver Spring, MD. The meeting is free and open to the public. Participants are encouraged to pre-register online by April 25, 2008.
March 26, 2008
NOAA to Host National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that it is hosting the National Symposium on Shellfish and the Environment on June 9-10, 2008, in Warwick, Rhode Island. Due to limited space, participation in this symposium is by invitation only. NOAA will be arranging for presentations to be webcast for those who are interested but are not able to participate in person. Click here for details on how to access the webcast. All conference materials, including a detailed agenda and a symposium summary, will be posted as they become available.
February
February 24, 2008
Comments on Alternative Feeds for Aquaculture due February 29, 2008
On February 24, 2008, the NOAA Aquaculture Program issued a reminder that public comments on the development of alternative feeds for aquaculture are due on February 29. NOAA, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), kicked off the new initiative in November 2007. The purpose of the initiative is to identify alternative dietary ingredients for aquaculture that will reduce the amount of fishmeal and fish oil contained in aquaculture feeds while maintaining the important human health benefits of farmed seafood. The public comments will be shared with a research panel developed for the initiative.
February 22, 2008
NOAA Partners With New Shellfish Research Institute to Examine Ecological Effects of Growing Shellfish
Researchers from NOAA's Milford Laboratory and the new Shellfish Research Institute have teamed up to study the effects of shellfish aquaculture on marine ecosystems. NOAA has set aside $423,000 to fund this partnership, which will examine various planting and harvesting techniques to determine their effects on benthic communities of coastal estuaries, as well as other issues surrounding shellfish aquaculture. The funding will be announced at the 28th Annual Milford Aquaculture Seminar to be held February 25-27, 2008 at the Milford Laboratory in Connecticut.
January
January 30, 2008
NOAA Releases Summary of 2007 National Marine Aquaculture Summit
On January 17, 2008, the NOAA Aquaculture Program released a new document, Summary of the 2007 National Marine Aquaculture Summit. This 10-page document highlights the recommendations from each of the eight panel discussions, including the opportunities and challenges for U.S. marine aquaculture.