The APHIS VS Aquaculture Team invites you to attend a ZOOM meeting on Monday, July 27 at 3 p.m. EDT for an overview of VEHCS specifically for aquatic animal/aquaculture producers, exporters and their veterinarians. As of March 2020 all countries are now accepting some form of electronic submission for export health certificates. This ZOOM meeting will be an opportunity to hear an overview of VEHCS by Dr. Scott Squires, APHIS VS Assistant Veterinarian In Charge, Veterinary Export Trade Services, Gainesville, FL, as well as an opportunity to ask questions. Dr. Antonio Longo, a private veterinary practitioner, Miami, FL will also give an overview of VEHCS from a practitioner’s perspective. Dr. Longo has successfully transitioned his aquaculture clients to the electronic system. APHIS is striving to have all export health certificates processed through VEHCS rather than routinely providing in-person endorsements at Ports, Service Centers or other locations.
Continue readingCategory Archives: Initiatives
Funding Opportunity from NOAA: Marine Aquaculture Pilot Projects
The Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC), in cooperation and funding from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Aquaculture, will be issuing approximately $690,000 in grants to fund marine aquaculture pilot projects focusing on sustainable aquatic farming techniques and regional business practices to grow U.S. domestic seafood. Individual proposals should not exceed $125,000 or be less than $50,000. PSMFC anticipates funding approximately 6-8 projects. Detailed information on the funding opportunity may be found here. Continue reading
Stakeholder Input Invited: Federally-funded Research Priorities for Aquaculture
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Aquaculture National Program 106 and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) are interested in obtaining stakeholder input towards establishing aquaculture research and extension priorities to be addressed in their respective programs over the next five years. The first step in this process Continue reading
Funding Available for Sustainable American Aquaculture through Foundation for Food and Agriculture
Up to $5M in new research funding will be awarded this year by the Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research (FFAR) through its Sustainable American Aquaculture program. The program is intended to stimulate and advance innovative research in sustainable fish and shellfish production, provide economic opportunities to U.S. farmers, and increase the supply of domestically-produced, nutritious foods to meet growing consumer demand. The FFAR recognizes the major need to understand the biological and technological barriers, and market potential for a diverse range of aquatic species. The funding opportunity takes action to foster the understanding and minimizing of potential environmental impacts of aquaculture production that will be key to public acceptance of farmed fish and shellfish products, and long-term industry success.
Pre-proposal submissions Continue reading
New film highlights importance of Marine Aquaculture in California and the U.S.
“Perspectives on Marine Aquaculture in California and the U.S.” is a short film recently produced by the Seafood for the Future program and Long Beach Aquarium and can be viewed here. It features prominent scientists and experts on the topic and discusses aquaculture’s role in the global food supply, the state of domestic marine aquaculture, and its future in the US and California.
“It’s important to put aquaculture into the broader context of food”, says Dr. Steve Gaines, Dean of UC Santa Barbara’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management. “It’s easy to focus on the negative impacts of one form of food production in terms of environmental impacts, without recognizing that all forms of food production have some negative impacts.” Dr. Gaines goes on to point out how important it is to look at how all of those food production methods compare to one another. Recent research analysis shows that aquaculture, done well using today’s current best practices, can exert the lowest environmental impacts of any form of food production on the planet. Continue reading
Ventura Shellfish Enterprise plans model permitting strategy for new growers and re-vitalization of Port
Quoting a recent article in the Ventura County Reporter by Chris O’Neal, “…when a group of entrepreneurial, scientifically minded individuals comes together for a project, big ideas can emerge. Such is the case of the Ventura Shellfish Enterprise — a proposed multiparty project that would allow for (20) 100-acre plots for growing mussels in state waters within the Santa Barbara Channel near Ventura Harbor.” Continue reading
Ready, Set, Farm!
Aquaculture Business Incubator Taking Proposals in San Diego
In the interest of promoting local business and sustainable seafood, the Port of San Diego has created a process to support local development concepts with their first business incubator – and it’s aimed at aquaculture. The Aquaculture Business Incubator will further the Port’s broader mission to promote fisheries, commerce, navigation, and recreation, by focusing on aquaculture partnerships. And they are ready to receive proposals immediately.
Aquaculture Community Holds Lively Discussion at UCLA School of Law
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On March 13, members of the aquaculture community met at UCLA School of Law for the inaugural California Aquaculture Law Symposium. The presenters and attendees were a mix of aquaculturists, government regulators, non-profit groups and students. Paul Olin, aquaculture specialist for … Continue reading
California Shellfish Initiative Seeks to Improve Climate For Farmers and Regulators
Courtesy of Hog Island Oyster Co.
Thirty years ago in Tomales Bay, John Finger started an oyster farm with just $500. But, today he acknowledges it is much more difficult to start a shellfish company in California.
“Starting was easier back in the day,” he told an audience of shellfish growers, government regulators and other aquaculture stakeholders. “Expanding business is an onerous process. How do we reconcile industry and regulatory needs?”
Aquaculture Matters 