Report to the
National Science and Technology Council
Committee on Science
Office of the President of the United States
November, 1999
The United States Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA) is a statutory committee established by the National Aquaculture Act of 1980 and re-authorized through the year 2002 by the Agricultural Research, Education, and Extension Reform Act (AREERA) of 1998. The 1980 Act defined national aquaculture policy by stating: "it is the national interest, and it is the national policy, to encourage the development of aquaculture in the United States." and to "encourage aquaculture activities and programs in both the public and private sectors of the economy". The following provides an update of recent JSA activities:
Revision of the National Aquaculture Development Plan (NADP)
The JSA began proceedings to update the NADP in 1995. A revised Strategic Plan was drafted in 1996 and stakeholder input was requested on the draft. Six regional stakeholder meetings were held to procure stakeholder input to the draft NADP along with comments from stakeholder groups, associations, and individuals. The JSA has recently been working on reviewing stakeholder input, incorporating stakeholder input into the revision of the Strategic Plan, including an Implementation Plan, and the final draft of the revised NADP of 2000 is currently under review by the JSA.
JSA Working Groups and Task Forces
The JSA normally meets quarterly. Working Groups and Task Forces under the JSA are established and meet as needed to address specific issues of national scope and importance relative to aquaculture-related issues.
1) Working Group on Quality Assurance in Aquaculture Production
The Working Group on Quality Assurance in Aquaculture is co-chaired by USDA/CSREES and FDA/CVM. The group met twice in 1999 and is currently continuing work on its 5-year plan of work. Their next meeting is scheduled for February 2000 at Aquaculture America 2000 in New Orleans, Louisiana.
2) Shrimp Virus Task Force
In March 1996, the JSA Executive Committee held an emergency meeting to discuss the shrimp virus situation and agreed to form a Shrimp Virus Work Group. In May 1996, the Shrimp Virus Work Group recommended to the JSA that the work group’s primary task should be to develop an interagency strategy to address the shrimp virus issue. JSA accepted this recommendation and a workshop was held to address these issues. Workshop participants included environmentalists, shrimp farmers, commercial shrimpers, processors, and consumers as well as state and Federal regulators from both the U.S. and Mexico. A report from this workshop was generated, a notice of availability was published in the Federal Register, and the final report can be viewed via the Internet.
3) Aquaculture Effluents Study Task Force
EPA published a notice of intent to conduct a study on effluents produced by public and private aquaculture facilities in the U.S. Subsequent to this announcement, USDA offered to join with EPA to assist in providing any research-based information generated by years of USDA-sponsored research on aquaculture effluents. A new JSA task force was initiated in September 1999 under the leadership of USDA/CSREES with participation of other federal agencies and stakeholders. The first meeting is planned for February 2000.
JSA reports, publications, and products
1. Shrimp Virus Task Force report: "An Evaluation of Potential Shrimp Virus Impacts on Cultured Shrimp and Wild Shrimp Populations in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern U.S. Atlantic Coast Waters"
2. Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture web page- The JSA homepage describes the subcommittee’s mission, authorizing legislation, describes national policy, JSA membership, outlines reporting authorities, and provides information on the workings of the JSA and its activities.
3. Guide to Federal Aquaculture Programs and Services (electronic publication)- prepared by the Joint Subcommittee on Aquaculture (JSA) as a directional resource to aquaculture programs and services within the Federal government.
4. Revision of "Guide to Drug, Vaccine, and Pesticide Use in Aquaculture" (in preparation)-
5. National Coordinator for Aquaculture New Animal Drug Applications (electronic publication)- The overall goal of the National NADA Coordinator position is to coordinate activities for investigational new animal drug exemptions (INADs) and new animal drug applications (NADAs) to expedite approval for the legal use of priority drugs in aquaculture in the United States.
6. JSA Federal Update at Aquaculture America ‘99- The JSA and other federal aquaculture-related activities were the subject of a Special Session at Aquaculture America’ 99 at the request of the National Aquaculture Association.
Other Areas of Focus for Next Year
Form an Aquatic Animal Health Task Force to address issues pertaining to aquatic animal health policies, regulations and services.
Coordinating and integrating aquaculture statistics reporting at national, regional, and state levels.
Continuing work on exotic shrimp viruses and developing appropriate risk assessment approaches for different sectors of shrimp industry.
Restructuring the Executive Committee
Continue activities of the Working Group on Quality Assurance in Aquaculture Production and the Aquaculture Effluents Work Group.