Alternative fish feeds NOAA priority in FY11

In NOAA Aquaculture Program's first newsletter, Dr. Michael Rubino, program manager, said that in FY11, the President requested an increase of $5.1 million for NOAA's marine aquaculture program, for a total of $12.7 million. With that, NOAA will continue to address the agency's significant regulatory and management responsibilities under existing laws for all forms of marine aquaculture and will expand aquaculture research at science centers and through competitive grants.  In particular, NOAA Fisheries and NOAA Sea Grant will jointly respond to the four research area needs identified in a 2008 Government Accountability Office report concerning the environmental effects of marine aquaculture, including developing alternative fish feeds; creating best management practices to minimize environmental impacts; determining how escaped cultured fish might impact wild stocks; and disease management strategies.

To receive your copy of the NOAA Newsletter, sign up here.