---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 2803"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "2803"
heading: "National Aquaculture Development Plan"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/2803"
units:
  - "Chapter 48 — National Aquaculture Policy, Planning, and Development"
---

# §2803. National Aquaculture Development Plan

- (a) **In general—**
  - (1) Within eighteen months after September 26, 1980, the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) shall establish the National [Aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) Development Plan.
  - (2) In developing the Plan, and revisions thereto under [subsection (d)](#d), beginning not later than six months after September 26, 1980, the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) shall consult with the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) of Commerce and the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) of the Interior, other appropriate Federal officers, [States](/usc/16/544.md?p=r), regional fishery management councils established under [section 1852 of this title](/usc/16/1852.md), and representatives of the [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) industry. In [addition](/usc/16/410r–5.md?p=c-2), the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) shall give interested [persons](/usc/16/2802.md?p=5) and organizations an opportunity to comment during the development of the Plan.
- (b) **Contents of Plan—** The Plan shall—
  - (1) identify [aquatic species](/usc/16/2802.md?p=3) that the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) determine to have significant potential for culturing on a commercial or other basis;
  - (2) recommend actions to be taken by the public and private sectors (which may include, but are not limited to, research and development, technical assistance, demonstration, extension education, and training activities) that are necessary to achieve such potential;
  - (3) address, after [taking](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account the status of [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) regarding the [aquatic species](/usc/16/2802.md?p=3) concerned—
    - (A) [aquaculture facility](/usc/16/2802.md?p=2) design and operation,
    - (B) water quality management,
    - (C) use of waste products (including thermal effluents),
    - (D) nutrition and the development of economical feeds, including natural food sources,
    - (E) life history, genetics, physiology, pathology, and disease control (including research regarding organisms that may not be harmful to fish and shellfish, but are injurious to humans),
    - (F) processing and market development,
    - (G) production management and quality control, and
    - (H) the development of adequate supplies of seed stock;
  - (4) include, where appropriate, research programs on the effect of [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) on estuarine and other water [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) and on the management of such [areas](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) for [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1);
  - (5) include, where appropriate, programs to analyze, and formulate proposed resolutions of, the legal or regulatory constraints that may affect [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1); and
  - (6) include such other research and development, technical assistance, demonstration, extension education, and training programs as the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) deems necessary or appropriate to carry out this chapter.

  In formulating the Plan, the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) shall, to the extent practicable, [take](/usc/16/3102.md?p=18) into account any significant action that (i) has been, or is proposed to be, undertaken by any other Federal department or agency, any [State](/usc/16/2802.md?p=9) agency, or any [person](/usc/16/2802.md?p=5), and (ii) may affect the implementation of the Plan.

- (c) **Actions and implementation—** The Plan shall specify—
  - (1) with respect to those actions that the [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) determines should be undertaken, the period of time within which each such action should be completed, in order to implement the Plan; and
  - (2) with respect to each such action which of the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7), acting individually, jointly, or collectively, has the responsibility for implementing the action.

  The specifications of Secretarial responsibilities under [paragraph (2)](#c-2) for implementing actions shall be determined on the basis of—

  - (A) the responsibilities conferred on the respective [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) by law or by any executive action having the effect of law (including, but not limited to, Reorganization Plan Numbered 4 of 1970);
  - (B) the experience, expertise, and other appropriate resources that the department of each such [Secretary](/usc/16/2802.md?p=8) may have with respect to the action required under the activity concerned; and
  - (C) the concurrence of the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7).
- (d) **Revision of Plan—** The [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) shall undertake periodic reviews of the operation and effectiveness of the Plan. If as a result of any such review, or the [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) assessment required under [subsection (e)](#e), the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) determine that—
  - (1) any [aquatic species](/usc/16/2802.md?p=3) not currently identified in the Plan has significant potential for [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1);
  - (2) any action specified in the Plan is not being accomplished on a successful and timely basis; or
  - (3) any action specified in the Plan should be terminated because its objectives have been achieved or its projected benefits do not warrant further support;

  the [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7) shall appropriately amend the Plan.

- (e) **Continuing aquaculture assessment—** The [Secretaries](/usc/16/2802.md?p=7), through the [coordinating group](/usc/16/2802.md?p=4), shall undertake a continuing assessment of [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) in the United States for the purpose of maintaining, on a continuing basis—
  - (1) a complete profile of the aquacultural industry with respect to the incidence, size, and status of commercial aquacultural enterprises;
  - (2) the identification of the private and public institutions and organizations involved in aquacultural research, extension, credit, and market development;
  - (3) the identification of the various [aquatic species](/usc/16/2802.md?p=3) being cultured and a description of the status of commercial development of each of those species;
  - (4) to the extent practicable, the identification of aquacultural production regions, species, and markets that have significant potential for development;
  - (5) a catalog describing all Federal programs and activities that directly or indirectly encourage, support, or assist [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1); and
  - (6) the identification of the economic, physical, legal, institutional, and social constraints that inhibit the development of [aquaculture](/usc/16/2802.md?p=1) in the United States.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 96–362, § 4, Sept. 26, 1980, 94 Stat. 1199; Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300; Pub. L. 99–198, title XVII, § 1734, Dec. 23, 1985, 99 Stat. 1641; Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Reorganization Plan Numbered 4 of 1970, referred to in subsec. (c)(A), is Reorg. Plan No. 4 of 1970, 35 F.R. 15627, 84 Stat. 2090, which is set out in the Appendix to Title 5, Government Organization and Employees.

### Amendments

1996—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 104–208 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1852 of this title.

1985—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1734(1)(A), (B), substituted “Secretary” for “Secretaries” wherever appearing and inserted provisions requiring consultations with the Secretary of Commerce and the Secretary of the Interior.

Subsec. (a)(3). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1734(1)(C), struck out par. (3) which provided for the establishment of an advisory committee to assist in the initial development of the Plan.

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1734(2), inserted “to” after “determine” in par. (1), substituted “Secretary deems” for “Secretaries deem” in par. (6), and substituted “Secretary” for “Secretaries” in provisions following par. (6).

Subsec. (c)(1). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1734(3)(A), substituted “Secretary determines” for “Secretaries determine”.

Subsec. (c)(2)(C). Pub. L. 99–198, § 1734(3)(B)–(D), added subpar. (C).

1980—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 96–561 made technical amendment to reference in original act which appears in text as reference to section 1852 of this title.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–208, div. A, title I, § 101(a) [title II, § 211(b)], Sept. 30, 1996, 110 Stat. 3009, 3009–41, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Oct. 11, 1996.

### Effective Date of 1980 Amendment

Pub. L. 96–561, title II, § 238(b), Dec. 22, 1980, 94 Stat. 3300, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective 15 days after Dec. 22, 1980.