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NOAA’s Role in Aquaculture

 
 
 

 

As a federal agency under the U.S. Department of Commerce, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is at the forefront of a national initiative to help the United States become more self-sufficient in the production of seafood. NOAA’s approach is to foster robust domestic aquaculture production as a complement to wild harvest fisheries. Since 2008, the agency has been expanding its national program into the NOAA Fisheries Service’s regional offices. This regional focus better connects the agency’s national program with issues in the Northeast, Southeast and Southwest regions.

 

Juvenile Oysters (Credit: David Alves)
Juvenile Oysters are small enough to hold many of them in your
hand at this stage of culture. In another year these will be large enough to serve. (Credit: David Alves)
Guided by the 10-Year Plan for Marine Aquaculture, NOAA's overall aquaculture efforts are focused on creating domestic supply to meet the nation’s growing demand for seafood; establishing aquaculture as a viable technology for replenishment of important commercial and recreational marine fisheries; and creating opportunities for the United States to engage the global aquaculture community through scientific and technological exchange.

  • NOAA's Regional Role in Aquaculture - Fact Sheet
  • NOAA Aquaculture Program -- This link will take you to the agency’s national program page.
  • NOAA’s 10-Year Plan for Marine Aquaculture -- This link will take you to the agency’s national plan for aquaculture.
  • New Report Focuses on Technology Research Needs for U.S. Marine Aquaculture
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Aquaculture Program has released a new report, "Overcoming Technical Barriers to the Sustainable Development of Competitive Marine Aquaculture in the United States". The 120-page report is based on the discussions and outcomes of a meeting sponsored by NOAA and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in February 2008. Edited by Craig Browdy and John Hargreaves, the report identifies aquaculture technology research needs in the United States with a focus on overcoming technical barriers for environmentally and economically sustainable marine aquaculture. The four technologies addressed in the report are:
    • Land-based production of marine shrimp;
    • Land-based production of marine finfish;
    • Coastal shellfish production; and
    • Cage production of marine finfish.

    Click here to view or download the 120-page report. For more information, or to obtain a hard copy, send an e-mail with your street address to Kate.Naughten@noaa.gov.

NOAA News, Upcoming Events and Other Information -- This link will take you to the NOAA Aquaculture ‘News and Notices” page for announcements and updates.

NOAA Funding Opportunities -- This link will take you to the NOAA funding opportunities and financial assistance web page.

NOAA Milford Laboratory -- Established in 1931, the Milford Laboratory has a long history of research on shellfish in the Northeast. This link will take you to the Milford NOAA web site.

NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office -- This link will take you to the NOAA Chesapeake Bay Office, where aquaculture is being used to enhance and restore native populations of shellfish.

For more information on the Northeast Region Aquaculture Programs, please contact David Alves
at (978) 281-9210 or David.Alves@noaa.gov

Last Updated: October 14, 2009

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