July 11 -- The National Agricultural Statistics Service, USDA invites comments to OMB by August 10, 2023 regarding the 2023 Census of Aquaculture.
The Census of Aquaculture is one of a series of special study programs that comprise the follow-on study to the Census of Agriculture and is designed to provide detailed statistics on the aquaculture industry. The primary objective of the 2023 Census of Aquaculture is to obtain a comprehensive and detailed picture of the aquaculture sector of the economy. The Census of Aquaculture is the only source of comparable and consistent data at the national and State levels for the aquaculture industry. The Census of Aquaculture will cover all operations, commercial or noncommercial, for which $1,000 or more of aquaculture products were sold or normally would have been sold during the census year. Data from the 2023 Census of Aquaculture will be tabulated to provide benchmark statistics at the U.S. and State levels. These data will provide information on the aquaculture industry necessary for policy makers to implement regulations affecting the growth of the industry and the wellbeing of the economy.
The census of agriculture is required by law under the “Census of Agriculture Act of 1997,” Public Law 105–113 (Title 7, United States Code, section 2204g). The law authorizes the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct surveys deemed necessary to furnish annual or other data on the subjects covered by the census. The 2023 Census of Aquaculture Survey will be conducted under the provisions of this section. Response to this follow-on census is required by law.
The National Agricultural Statistics Service will collect data to provide a comprehensive inventory on the number of operations, freshwater and saltwater acreage used for aquaculture production, water sources used for production, methods of production, total production, sales outlets, value of aquaculture products sold and sales by aquaculture species, products distributed for recreation, restoration, or conservation by species. These data will provide information on the aquaculture industry necessary for farmers, government, and various groups, concerned with the aquaculture industry to evaluate policy and programs, make marketing decisions, and determine the economic impact on the economy.
Census of Aquaculture:
https://www.nass.usda.gov/Surveys/Guide_to_NASS_Surveys/Census_of_Aquaculture/index.php
NASS submission to OMB:
https://www.reginfo.gov/public/do/PRAViewICR?ref_nbr=202305-0535-001 Click IC List for information collection instrument, View Supporting Statement for technical documentation. Submit comments through this webpage.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-14591
For AEA members wishing to submit comments, "A Primer on How to Respond to Calls for Comment on Federal Data Collections" is available at
https://www.aeaweb.org/content/file?id=5806
