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Potential Assistance for Alternative Oyster Culture. Oyster Advisory Committee August 21, 2012. Alternative Oyster Culture Status. Alternative Oyster Culture was authorized by Act 293 ( La. 2012 Reg. Sess.) Suitability mapping is nearing completion
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Potential Assistance for Alternative Oyster Culture Oyster Advisory Committee August 21, 2012
Alternative Oyster Culture Status • Alternative Oyster Culture was authorized by Act 293 (La. 2012 Reg. Sess.) • Suitability mapping is nearing completion • Implementing regulations are under development • Oyster hatchery at Grand Isle is operational • Produces spat, primarily for use on public seed grounds • Spat will also be used for remote setting • Investigating whether spat can be sold for private AOC • NRDA early restoration hatchery expansion is proceeding • Oyster remote setting facility at Buras is proceeding • Will combine spat with substrate, for use on public seed grounds, and eventually for transplant to private leases
Investments Needed for AOC • Private hatcheries • To supply additional spat needs • Using techniques developed in state hatchery • Nurseries • To grow spat to sufficient size to use for AOC • Equipment • To contain and grow oysters • Others?
Potential Funding Sources • Tax credits or deductions • Federal or state • Loan programs • Federal, state, private • Grant programs • Federal, state, private • Others?
Tax Credits or Deductions • Federal Commercial Fishing, Farm, and Ranch Risk Mgmt. Act (H.R. 6276, 112th Cong., 2d Sess.) • Introduced 8/2/12 • Would grant federal tax deduction for contributions to management accounts (trusts) for fishing • North Carolina Oyster Shell Recycling Program • Precludes disposing of shells in landfills • Provides $1/bushel state tax credit for shells (sunsets in 2013)
Loans • NOAA Fisheries Finance Program, 50 CFR 253 • Loans for up to 80% of cost for fisheries facilities, including for aquaculture • $115 M est. in FY 12; $83 M est. in FY 2013 • http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/mb/financial_services/ffp.htm • Maryland Shellfish Aquaculture Loan Program • Low-interest loans for start-up costs, up to $100,000 • $1.8 M in 2012; Less in 2013 • Maryland Remote Setting Shellfish Aquaculture Loan Program • Low-interest loans for larvae, substrate, tanks, pumps, blower, valves and heaters, up to $30,000
Grants • Research & development, not industry support • Small Business Innovation Research Program (NOAA, USDA, NSF) • Saltonstall-Kennedy Grant Program (NOAA) • No funds for FY 11 • Amendment: Fisheries Investment and Regulatory Relief Act (S. 2184/H.R. 4208, 112th Cong., 2d. Sess.) • Marine Fisheries Initiative Program (NOAA) • National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA) • Various grants
Recommendations and Requests for Louisiana • For what should assistance be requested? • Overcoming barriers to entry • Not merely for routine business investment • What type of assistance should be requested? • Who should be asked for assistance? • Other thoughts?