Federal & State Coordination on Sustainable Aquaculture Development in CA

The Department of Commerce and NOAA Fisheries have issued companion draft Marine Aquaculture Policies.  The preparation of these policies was conducted with significant public and agency input and coordination. In California, this has meant extensive communication with the Department of Fish and Game, our State co-manager of marine resources, including aquaculture activities.  NOAA’s Regional Aquaculture Coordinator has worked closely with the State Aquaculture Coordinator as drafting of NOAA’s marine aquaculture policy was underway, facilitating formulation of co-equal goals, objectives and priorities, with the intent of providing a streamlined framework for development of sustainable aquaculture.

At the same time as NOAA’s policy development, the Department of Fish and Game has been drafting a Programmatic Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) on Marine Aquaculture for existing and potential aquaculture operations in California, per requirements of Senate Bill 201 (Sustainable Oceans Act).  The programmatic EIR goal is to provide a framework for managing marine finfish aquaculture in an environmentally sustainable manner.  At a programmatic level, this report addresses siting criteria, chemical, biological and environmental factors.  Several steps need to occur before applications for marine finfish operations are accepted: completion of the programmatic EIR, lease application process updates, regulatory changes and evaluation of individual projects.   This PEIR is an important first step in evaluating marine finfish aquaculture in California.  NOAA Fisheries has been fully engaged in review and revision of the PEIR as it moves towards the public review phase. The two policy documents nest together compatibly, with the Federal policy providing a framework for sustainable aquaculture development at the national level, and the PEIR providing regionally specific details to guide existing and potential aquaculture activities.

Development of these two policy documents has resulted in outreach and communication opportunities for NOAA/Department of Fish and Game partners to inform and guide sustainable aquaculture development in California.  An aquaculture communication/planning workgroup was formed between NOAA’s Southwest Regional Aquaculture Coordinator, the State Aquaculture Coordinator, California Sea Grant’s Aquaculture Coordinator, the University of California Extension Program, and Hubbs Seaworld Research Institute to develop a series of white papers regarding sustainable marine aquaculture development in California.  This group is also planning potential workshops to share these documents and discuss sustainable aquaculture opportunities in California.