Press Releases: Fish

Statement: We are very disappointed by the court’s decision, which seems to say that aquaculture facilities can be permitted in federal waters, even if not authorized by a regional fishery management council. We do not think this is what Congress contemplated when they enacted our nation’s fishing laws, and we are currently considering all of our legal options, including an appeal.

Press Release: Today, national consumer organization Food & Water Watch announced a new program to scrutinize the largely unchallenged claims that market-based schemes like pollution trading, water markets, privatization and commodification of common resources will help reduce pollution and manage our water resources.

Statement: “Kampachi Farms Founder Neil Simm’s self-congratulatory announcement of the company’s first successful harvest from the first commercial offshore aquaculture facility in federal waters in the United States is an attempt to paper over the company’s problems. The announcement should have mentioned the lawsuit that was filed by Honolulu-based KAHEA: The Hawaiian Environmental Alliance and Food & Water Watch against federal agencies for allowing Kampachi Farms (formerly Kona Blue Water Farms) to operate their aquaculture farm in federal waters with an illegal permit.

Media Statement: Washington, D.C.—“Today, the New England Fishery Management Council takes up a nearly impossible task. Faced with a new, abysmal stock assessment for cod, the Council will be weighing their obligation to preserve fish populations for the future against their responsibilities of managing a healthy fishing industry. Unfortunately, the Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have spent the last few years painting themselves into a corner. By initiating a catch shares system in New England, the Council and NMFS have restricted their flexibility to mitigate disasters like the dramatic decline of the cod population.

“Early estimates suggest that the allotment of cod for commercial fishermen in 2012 could be 90 percent lower than the catch allowed in 2010. This is likely to result in a 25 percent decline in income for groundfishermen, with fishermen in New Hampshire and Maine hit even harder (91 percent and 54 percent, respectively). The ill-conceived catch share program has already created economic havoc by consolidating the industry. In 2010, 7.6 percent of the fleet accounted for 50 percent of all groundfish revenues. 165 crew jobs were lost in the first year of catch share implementation and 73 boats left the fishery.

Media Statement: “We are deeply concerned about President Obama’s proposal to move the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to the Department of the Interior, the same Department that brought us BP’s Deepwater Horizon.

“While the mission of NOAA is not consistent with the mission of the Department of Commerce where it currently resides, moving it to the Department of Interior will fail to eliminate any conflicts arising from dueling mandates.

Media Statement: “The Senate hearing today called by Senator Mark Begich (D-AK) to discuss the environmental impact of genetically engineered (GE) salmon is a welcome development. Congress also needs to examine what we know about the human health impacts of consuming such laboratory creations. If they did, they’d figure out the answer: not much.”

Media Statement: “In a sure sign that a crucial bill to prevent the abuses of catch shares is gathering momentum, today members of the House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing to consider, among other measures, the “Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011,” introduced in August by Representatives Jon Runyan (NJ-3), Walter Jones (NC-3), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18).

Media Statement: “In a sure sign that a crucial bill to prevent the abuses of catch shares is gathering momentum, today members of the House Committee on Natural Resources held a legislative hearing to consider, among other measures, the “Saving Fishing Jobs Act of 2011,” introduced in August by Representatives Jon Runyan (NJ-3), Walter Jones (NC-3), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (FL-18).

Washington, DC – On Wednesday, the national consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch released a report on the effects of catch share programs on Gulf of Mexico fisheries. Analyzing brand new federal government data, the report, entitled A Closer Look at Catch Shares in the United States: The Gulf of Mexico, reveals that Gulf fisheries managed under one controversial program have seen significant industry consolidation and job losses and that certain catch shares programs have failed to meet ecological goals. The report comes a day after congressional sponsors of a bill to continue a recently enacted ban on new catch share programs along the east coast and Gulf of Mexico confirmed that Congress had reached an agreement to kill the vote.

Press Release: With AquaBounty’s AquaAdvantage genetically engineered (GE) salmon now under review by the White House and one step closer to approval, Alaska’s senators—concerned about the possible impacts the approval would have on their state’s wild salmon stocks—are taking actions to try to block the experimental organism. One of the actions would block the salmon’s approval, while the other would effectively stop its commercialization should the fish be approved.