Click here to get the PDF

On May 30, 2008, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the federal agency in charge of making sure that projects occurring in our nation’s waters are safe for humans and the environment, issued a permit for a bizarre experiment in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts. The project is to condition 5,000 hatchery-raised fish to associate a specific sound with being fed. The plan is to release “Pavlov’s fish” into the wild and then later call them back by playing the sound to be caught. The Corps rushed through the permitting process, ignoring over 1,000 citizen requests for a public hearing and did not complete an Environmental Impact Statement – a document that discusses potential consequences from the project.  Public hearings and EISes help the public and managers better understand potential impacts of a project before making any decisions. Right now there is simply not enough information available about the project to determine if it should be allowed. We do know that open water fish farm projects can cause problems for essential fish habitats, our marine environment, and the economy of coastal communities.

Threats to Essential Fish Habitat

This project may harm already threatened wild fish populations. The proposed site in Buzzard’s Bay is defined as an “Essential Fish Habitat” for endangered and threatened species. This means Buzzards Bay’s waters are critical for life cycles of many fish and other wildlife, including for spawning, breeding, feeding, and maturing.  As of now, bluefin tuna is critically endangered, American cod and haddock are vulnerable, and sandbar shark is a near threatened species. Other fish that rely on this area that would be threatened by the project include but are not limited to: American butterfish, American plaice, Atlantic mackerel, black sea bass, cobia, finned squid, haddock, king mackerel, red hake, sandbar shark, scup, summer flounder, surf clam, and winter flounder.     

Genetic Pollution of Wild Fish Populations

The release of farmed black sea bass into the wild can, over time, change the genetic composition and behavior of natural stocks , jeopardize the recovery of depleted or endangered species, lead to the spread of diseases, interbreeding with wild populations, and disruption of natural ecosystems.

Water Pollution

When a large number of fish are grown together in a cage in the open ocean, fish waste and excess feed may be released into the surrounding waters.  While proponents of ocean fish farming claim that the waste will be sufficiently dispersed by currents and therefore not have a negative impact on the environment, studies have shown that when fish are raised in cages in the ocean, fish waste and uneaten feed, which contain nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, phosphate and, sometimes, heavy metals such as mercury, copper and zinc, can build up on the sea floor and cause damage.    

Feed Concerns

MBL plans to periodically release fish feed into the water. Wild fish will also be able to eat the feed and will likely grow accustomed to an easy meal.  In most U.S. National Parks, feeding wild organisms is prohibited because they become dependent on humans for food.  In addition to training the fish they release out into the wild to come when called, MBL plans to test whether wild fish can become conditioned get their food from the feeding tube too.   Adding a food source to the ecosystem disrupts the natural balance of the food chain, and can cause aggressive behavior among animals that do not normally interact. 

Concerns for Coastal Communities

The Buzzards Bay Watershed is an important public resource that contributes significantly to the livelihoods of coastal communities in Bristol County, Plymouth County and Cape Cod.  A healthy Buzzards Bay has long supported commercial and recreational fishing, sailing, and water sports for both residents and visitors. Opening Buzzards Bay to this experimental project may negatively impact all of these activities, which contribute significantly to the Massachusetts economy and quality of life. 

Lack of Public Input

As citizens, we have the right to know what is happening in our public waters, and should be able to participate in their management. Public hearings allow a meaningful opportunity for people to be a part of the decision-making process on natural resources.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers ignored over 1,000 citizen requests for a public hearing and an Environmental Impact Statement – a document that discusses the potential consequences of an action, like this project, so both the public and managers fully understand existing options and results before making any decisions.

Violation of Federal Law

The National Environmental Policy Act  (NEPA) of 1969 was enacted by Congress for two main reasons: to require federal agencies to take the time to research and understand significant environmental impacts arising from projects they permit, and to give the public an opportunity to participate in the decision making process. The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) does this through an environmental review that is the basis for public comment. An EIS explains in detail ways to accomplish a project goal and evaluated each option on how it will impact people and the environment. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit to the Marine Biological Lab without preparing an EIS or holding a public hearing.

Conclusion & Recommendations

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers should suspend the permit until they hold a public hearing as requested by community members, as well as prepare an Environmental Impact Statement that addresses the potential impacts of the project in Buzzards Bay.