The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) Pacific Islands Regional Office (PIRO) is working with the Western Pacific Fishery Management Council (Council) to establish an aquaculture management program in the Pacific Islands Region (PIR). NMFS prepared a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) to support early planning for a future management program and evaluate the potential effects of alternatives under consideration. Aquaculture in Federal waters would be managed under revised Fishery Ecosystem Plans (FEPs) and their implementing regulations. The final PEIS supports tiered environmental effects analyses in the future.
Aquaculture in Federal waters in the PIR is not currently subject to extensive management oversight, with limited exceptions. This situation increases the potential for unplanned development and proliferation of unmanaged aquaculture operations in waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ or Federal waters) in the PIR. NMFS national and regional priorities seek to increase opportunities for sustainable aquaculture to promote safe, sustainable, seafood production. Aquaculture operations could supplement wild-caught fish, increase food security, reduce reliance on seafood imports, and provide economic opportunity and job creation.
The management program is being designed to regulate, manage, and promote the development of an environmentally sound and economically sustainable aquaculture industry in Federal waters of the PIR. The program would enable NMFS and the Council to provide enhanced planning, coordination, and oversight of aquaculture in Federal waters, and is intended to help provide operational stability and maintain Council and NMFS commitments to sustainable and environmentally sound fisheries management.
The public can view the PEIS and related comments at https://www.regulations.gov/document/NOAA-NMFS-2021-0044-0003/.