Notice2023-23084
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska
Primary source
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Published
October 19, 2023
Issuing agencies
Commerce DepartmentNational Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Abstract
NOAA is beginning the process to identify Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters to help sustainably advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and seaweed (e.g., macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in partnership with the State of Alaska. NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to select potential study areas for further analysis. Please respond to the questions listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as appropriate.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 201 (Thursday, October 19, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 72046-72048]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2023-23084]
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DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
[RTID 0648-XD381]
Identifying Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Alaska
AGENCY: National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Commerce.
ACTION: Notice; request for information.
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SUMMARY: NOAA is beginning the process to identify Aquaculture
Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters to help sustainably
advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and seaweed (e.g.,
macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture, in partnership with the State of Alaska.
NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in
Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to
select potential study areas for further analysis. Please respond to
the questions listed in the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION section, as
appropriate.
DATES: Written comments must be received on or before December 18,
2023.
Two webinar-based listening sessions are scheduled for Alaska.
1. November 14, 2023, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. (AKST) Alaska.
2. November 15, 2023, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (AKST) Alaska.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments on this document, identified by
NOAA-NMFS-2023-0113, by any of the following methods:
<bullet> Electronic Submission: Submit all electronic public
comments via the Federal e-Rulemaking Portal. Go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> and enter NOAA-NMFS-2023-0113 in the Search box.
Click on the ``Comment'' icon, complete the required fields, and enter
or attach your comments.
<bullet> Mail: Submit written information to Jon Kurland, Regional
Administrator for Alaska Region NMFS, Attn: Records Office. Mail
comments to P.O. Box 21668, Juneau, AK 99802-1668.
<bullet> Webinar links: Links and toll-free phone numbers for each
webinar can be found at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/request-information-identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/action/request-information-identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska</a>.
Instructions: Comments sent by any other method, to any other
address or individual, or received after the end of the comment period,
may not be considered by NMFS. Responses to this request are voluntary.
Respondents need not reply to all questions. All comments received are
a part of the public record and will generally be posted for public
viewing on <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a> without change. All personal
identifying information (e.g., name, address, etc.), confidential
business information, or otherwise sensitive information submitted
voluntarily by the sender will be publicly accessible. NMFS will accept
anonymous comments (enter ``N/A'' in the required fields if you wish to
remain anonymous).
Please note that the U.S. Government will not pay for any costs
that you may incur in responding to this Request for Information (RFI),
or for the use of any information contained in the response. The
documents and information submitted in response to this RFI become the
property of the U.S. Government and will not be returned.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Alicia Bishop, 907-586-7724,
<a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4e2023283d602f253c602f212f272028210e20212f2f60292138"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="a7c9cac1d489c6ccd589c6c8c6cec9c1c8e7c9c8c6c689c0c8d1">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: An AOA is a defined geographic area that
NOAA has evaluated through both spatial analysis and a programmatic
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process and determined to be
environmentally, socially, and economically appropriate to support
multiple commercial aquaculture operations. On June 1, 2023, NOAA
announced the beginning of the process to identify AOAs in partnership
with the State of Alaska in Alaska state waters. This is the beginning
of a multi-year process in which NOAA and the State of Alaska will work
to analyze locations and identify AOAs in Alaska state waters to help
sustainably advance invertebrate (e.g., shellfish, sea cucumber) and
seaweed (e.g., macroalgae, kelp) aquaculture. NOAA will not consider
finfish aquaculture during identification of AOAs in Alaska because it
is prohibited by state law.
NOAA has directives to preserve ocean sustainability and facilitate
domestic aquaculture in the U.S., including through the National
Aquaculture Act of 1980, the NOAA Marine Aquaculture Policy, and the
Executive Order 1321, Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and
Economic Growth (May 7, 2020). NOAA has a variety of proven science-
based tools and strategies that can support these directives and help
communities thoughtfully consider how and where to sustainably develop
aquaculture that will complement wild-capture fisheries, working
waterfronts, and our nation's seafood processing and distribution
infrastructure.
The areas identified as AOAs will have characteristics that are
expected to be able to support multiple aquaculture farm sites of
varying types; however, all portions of the AOA may not be appropriate
for aquaculture or for all types of aquaculture. Identifying AOAs is an
opportunity to use the best available science, which includes
Indigenous Knowledge, and supports the ``triple bottom line'' of
environmental, economic, and social sustainability. This approach has
been refined and utilized widely within states and by other countries
with robust, sustainable aquaculture sectors.
The Secretary of Commerce will identify AOAs in consultation with
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of the Interior, the Secretary
of Agriculture, the Secretary of Homeland Security, the Administrator
of the Environmental Protection Agency, other appropriate Federal
officials, and appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in
coordination with appropriate State and Tribal governments.
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NOAA held a 60-day public comment period in 2020 (85 FR 67519,
October 23, 2020) to collect input on where in the country to focus the
science-based, inclusive process to identify AOAs. During that comment
period, NOAA received letters of support from individuals, industry,
Alaska Native organizations, state agencies, and the state legislature
to begin the process in Alaska state waters.
NOAA cannot conduct spatial modeling on the scale of the entire
coast of Alaska, and will narrow down to study areas that will be the
focus moving forward. This will be done using a combination of spatial
mapping, scientific review, public input gathered through this RFI, and
other relevant information. NOAA's National Centers for Coastal Ocean
Science will use public input and the best available data, which
includes Indigenous Knowledge, to account for key environmental,
economic, social, and cultural considerations to identify areas that
may support sustainable aquaculture development. NOAA will then combine
those data with input from other State and Federal agencies, Fishery
Management Councils, Marine Fisheries Commissions, Alaska Native Tribes
and organizations, and the general public to identify areas that will
be considered in more depth through the NEPA process. Through this
notice, NOAA is requesting data, comments, views, information,
analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification
of AOAs in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be
used to select potential study areas for further analysis. The public
input provided in response to this request for information will inform
NOAA as it works with Federal, State, and Local agencies, appropriate
Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with
appropriate Alaska Native Tribes and organizations to identify AOAs.
Additional opportunities for public input will be provided during the
NEPA process.
NOAA may use the information received through this notice in the
NEPA process. The information could inform the development of potential
NEPA alternatives, such as different locations, different aquaculture
types in each location (e.g., seaweed in one location, shellfish in
another location), and different configurations of farm locations or
farming gear. NOAA expects to publish a notice of intent (NOI) to
prepare a programmatic NEPA document. Public notices announcing the NOI
and announcing the availability of a draft NEPA document will provide
future opportunities for public comment on the identification of AOAs
in Alaska state waters.
AOA identification is a planning process, and does not result in
areas permitted for aquaculture. Future aquaculture operations proposed
within an AOA would be subject to the same Federal and State permitting
and authorization requirements as an aquaculture operation proposed
anywhere else and would be required to comply with all applicable
Federal and State laws and regulations. Site-specific environmental
surveys may be required for the permitting process. Additional NEPA
analysis beyond that completed for identification of AOA(s) may be
necessary as a part of permitting and authorization processes for
individual operations.
Additional information on identifying AOAs in Alaska, including
frequently asked questions, is available on NOAA's website at: <a href="https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/aquaculture/identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska">https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/alaska/aquaculture/identifying-aquaculture-opportunity-areas-alaska</a>.
Request for Information
NOAA requests data, comments, views, information, analysis, or
suggestions from the public to support the identification of AOAs in
Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to
select potential study areas for further analysis.
NOAA proposes using the following parameters to select study areas
in Alaska state waters:
a. State waters within a 25-mile (40-kilometer) radius of coastal
community population centers (based on 2010 census data) as a proxy for
needed infrastructure to support aquaculture development in Alaska.
b. State waters that do not regularly experience significant sea
ice cover (based on the 10 year aggregate maximum sea ice cover
reported by the U.S. National Ice Center).
Figures showing the potential AOA study areas that would result
from use of these parameters can be found on the NOAA's National
Centers for Coastal Ocean Science Alaska AOA study area website:
<a href="https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/alaska-aquaculture-opportunity-areas/">https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/news/alaska-aquaculture-opportunity-areas/</a>.
These parameters are proposed starting points, from which NOAA will
select study areas using a combination of spatial mapping approaches,
scientific review, public input, Indigenous Knowledge, and any other
relevant information.
Specifically, NOAA is soliciting information and feedback on:
1. Are the preliminary parameters (noted above) useful? Are there
other parameters NOAA should consider in identifying initial study
areas for the aquaculture siting analysis? Are there other distances
from population centers/local infrastructure that should be considered,
and why?
2. Are there size limitations NOAA should consider for AOAs in
Alaska? How many farms should fit within an AOA? Should the size of
AOAs be aligned with state economic development goals for shellfish and
seaweed aquaculture?
3. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters that
should be considered or avoided for AOAs? Please be as specific as
possible and include latitude and longitude or defining landmarks.
Please indicate why such areas should be considered or avoided, for
example, favorable biological parameters, water quality (e.g.,
nutrients or other constituents that might make an area favorable),
proximity to infrastructure (e.g., ports, testing or processing
facilities, or hatcheries that could supply seed for grow-out),
relationship to other planned initiatives, etc.
4. Are there subsistence harvest locations, fishing areas, and
other traditionally and culturally important locations or sacred sites
that should be avoided? Is there available spatial data or geographic
information system (GIS) layers, or a point of contact for these data
or information?
5. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters where
the presence of aquaculture gear may overlap with sensitive habitats or
biologically important areas for protected species (e.g., whales, sea
otters, sea lions, etc.)?
6. Are there specific locations within Alaska state waters that
should be avoided because of concerns about harmful algal blooms (HABs)
or impaired water quality?
7. Is there ongoing environmental, economic, or social science
research that would assist in the identification of AOAs in Alaska
state waters? If so, please describe in as much detail as is available.
8. Is there information that may not be readily available or
accessible online that would be useful for AOA planning processes in
Alaska state waters? This includes spatial data or GIS layers
representing subsistence, environmental, and socioeconomic
considerations, or a point of contact for these data, for the following
categories:
a. Biophysical/oceanographic (ice cover, temperature, ocean
acidification indices, wave climate, currents, bathymetry),
b. Natural resources (minerals, energy resources, fishes and other
aquatic
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organisms, protected species and habitats, marine mammals, kelp beds,
eelgrass beds, biodiversity),
c. Social, historical, and cultural resources (cultural and
subsistence harvest, community subsistence hunting, subsistence
fishing, culturally important sites to encourage or avoid, shipwrecks),
d. Government boundaries,
e. Industry (fishing, energy production, transportation,
communication cables),
f. Military,
g. Navigation, and
h. Recreational resources (fishing, hunting, etc.).
9. Are there aquaculture species or gear considerations that may
result in optimized growth in Alaska state waters? This might include
(but is not limited to): species or aquaculture gear depth thresholds,
water current thresholds, temperature thresholds, salinity thresholds,
etc. Are there any species or gear not currently being used in Alaska
state waters that you would like to see in the future? Do they extend
any of these (or other) thresholds? Please be as specific as possible.
10. Is there any additional information NOAA should consider?
When providing input, please specify:
<bullet> The question number(s) you are responding to; and
<bullet> Whether your comments are related to specific type(s) of
aquaculture (macroalgae, invertebrates, or a combination of species).
Responses to this request are voluntary. Respondents need not reply
to all questions.
Authority: E.O. 13921.
Dated: October 12, 2023.
Danielle Blacklock,
Director, Office of Aquaculture, National Marine Fisheries Service,
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
[FR Doc. 2023-23084 Filed 10-18-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3510-22-P
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