ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the existing United States regulatory and oversight governance structures for aquaculture, which may serve as background information foundational to developing a responsible, ecosystem-based approach relevant to the modern political ecology of fish as farmed food. It presents three case studies for aquaculture governance across different states: California, North Carolina, and Washington. These states represent a diversity of types of aquaculture, governance structures, and industry sizes. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has maintained an independent set of initiatives to support the development of a thriving domestic industry, and it funds aquaculture research through several departmental agencies. Funding priorities reflect an emphasis on improved efficiency and performance in farmed fish populations, in contrast to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) emphasis on protecting wild species from the influence of farming and animal domestication. The case study model used illustrates a variety of issues related to regulation and oversight in the US aquaculture industry.
