The objectives of the project were to identify and address issues that impede ecologically safe expansion of the mariculture industry and to develop technical information to minimize impacts on the environment and on the health of human consumers. Project scientists represented NMFS in various meetings to address issues (national and international) and propose activities in mariculture research and development. Various presentations at international meetings were supported by the project. The project assisted and interagency risk assessment of viruses in Penaeid shrimp. To address a major impediment to the expansion of the industry, i.e., the lack of effective and approved chemotherapeutants, research was initiated to improve drug dosage forms for use in aquatic systems, in collaboration with the Medical University of South Carolina. Two important products of the project are: An Evaluation of Potential Shrimp Virus Impacts on Cultured Shrimp and Wild Shrimp Populations in the Gulf of Mexico and Southeastern Atlantic Coastal Waters (along with numerous other scientists) and Aquatic Therapeutant Delivery Systems (a comprehensive review of literature relevant to chemotherapeutants in aquatic systems).