U.S. Commerce Secretary Gutierrez to Host Two-day Aquaculture Economic Summit

U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez will host a two-day Aquaculture Economic Business Summit, June 26-27 in Washington, D.C.

The summit will feature a broad agenda focused on the business opportunities and challenges for U.S. marine aquaculture. The summit will also focus on specific action items, including:

• Legislation
• Regulation
• Research and development initiatives
• Economic incentives and investment programs, and
• Scientific research priorities to address public policy issues

At the summit, business leaders, policy experts, government officials, and researchers from across the nation will gather to exchange ideas and make recommendations on how the United States can join the global aquaculture community and accelerate the integration of domestic aquaculture into our own seafood production efforts.

Gutierrez will give keynote remarks on Tuesday, June 26, on the economic importance of promoting safe and sustainable aquaculture and the necessity to meet the United States growing demand for seafood.

James L. Connaughton, chairman of the White House's Council on Environmental Quality will be the featured speaker on Wednesday, June 27.

Congress is currently considering the Administration's National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007. The bill will help open the door for marine aquaculture and expand business opportunity in federal waters off U.S. coasts.

Seafood contributes over $8 billion to the United States' trade deficit. America imports 80 percent of its seafood and almost half of that is from aquaculture. A robust offshore aquaculture industry will help reverse this and will help drive economic growth.

You must register in advance to attend the conference and space is limited. See the registration page for more details.