USA - Public Comment Period on National Aquatic Animal Health Plan Open until October 20, 2009

The National Aquatic Animal Health Plan (NAAHP) for the United States is available for public review and comment until October 20, 2009. The NAAHP was developed by a Task Force led by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of the U.S. Department Agriculture, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of the U.S. Department of Commerce. It is anticipated that this plan will provide a framework for how APHIS, FWS, and NMFS should develop programs for diseases that affect the health of aquatic animals such as finfish, crustaceans, and mollusks.

 Click here to view or download the draft plan. For specific guidance on submitting public comments, go to the Federal Register notice.

For more information contact the NOAA Aquaculture Program’s National Aquatic Animal Health Coordinator, Kevin Amos.