Ocean Aquaculture Legislation Unnecessary and a Concern for Coastal and Fishing Communities and Environment
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Marianne Cufone, (813) 785-8386, mcufone@fwwatch.org
Julie Anderson, (202) 683-2467, janderson@fwwatch.org
Ocean Aquaculture Legislation Unnecessary and a Concern for Coastal and Fishing Communities and Environment
Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter
“On Christmas Eve, a bill introduced by Representative Lois Capps (CA-23) to allow offshore aquaculture in federal U.S. waters became available to the public. Also known as ocean fish farming, this practice is the mass-production of fish using open net pens or cages located about three to 200 miles offshore (in most ocean areas). This bill is unnecessary and not a step toward protecting our oceans and fishermen’s jobs from harms associated with ocean fish farming.
“While Representative Capps may intend legislation as a safeguard against a piecemeal approach to developing and regulating ocean aquaculture, the ultimate effect is of streamlining the process for the industry to better establish itself in the U.S.
“Ocean fish farming can have devastating effects on the environment and fishing jobs and produce lower-quality fish for consumers. Environmental problems can include escapement of fish, pollution of surrounding waters with excess feed and fish waste, and transmission of parasites and diseases to wild populations. These problems will not be fully mitigated by the bill, which enforces very limited liability for damages to natural resources.
“Economically, fish farms can undercut the prices that local fishermen receive for their catch, further threatening an already vulnerable job market. This industry is not a solution to the question of how to meet the growing demand for seafood.
“While many proponents of the bill cite the undesirable situation of a piecemeal approach in regulating the industry as the reason the bill is necessary, in reality, there is no existing industry to regulate. Hawaii has two open ocean fish farms in operation, but they are located within state waters, so will not be affected by this legislation. A permit applicant in California for what would have been the first offshore fish farm in U.S. federal waters recently pulled out of the drawn-out permitting process.
“Rather than continue with legislation to regulate (and thus allow) ocean fish farming, Representative Capps should instead support legislation that would prevent the growth of this industry. To supplement U.S. seafood production and increase green jobs, a much more sustainable approach is necessary. Representative Capps should support the exploration of aquaculture techniques that have fewer negative environmental and economic impacts, such as land-based, recirculating systems, also called RAS.
“RAS are land-based, scalable, closed-loop facilities that retain and treat water within the system, eliminate the threat of escapes, reduce the discharge of waste and the need for chemicals or antibiotics, and can be developed in communities throughout the country. There is growing support and demand for RAS rather than using outdated ocean fish farming methods that can come with serious problems.”
The Food & Water Watch Fish Program promotes safer and more sustainable seafood for consumers, while helping to protect the environment and support the long term well being of coastal and fishing communities.
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