It will if Hubbs-SeaWorld gets its way.

Background

The Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute—a non-profit research institute associated with the for-profit amusement park SeaWorld—is currently planning to develop the first commercial open ocean aquaculture project in federal waters, five miles off the coast of San Diego, California.  The proposed project would be more than three times the size of the only other existing commercial offshore aquaculture facility in the United States. Although this is pitched as a pilot research project, representatives of Hubbs-Seaworld have explicitly boasted that the facility will ultimately be transferred to a for-profit business entity.   Hubbs-Seaworld and the for-profit corporation would share revenue from the project.   After a decade of receiving more than $700,000 of public dollars from the Department of Commerce for preliminary open ocean aquaculture research, now, Hubbs-SeaWorld plans to make money off of our public fish resources.. 

Updates

A number of state and federal agencies are reviewing the Hubbs project to determine whether it should move forward.  Right now, there is simply not enough public information available about the project for it to be approved. We do know that open water fish farms elsewhere have caused problems for the marine environment and economy of coastal communities: including concentrated fish waste in the water, the consumptive use of small prey fish as feed, diminished recreational opportunities, and unemployment. 

• Read a summary of the major points of concern with the Hubbs-SeaWorld aquaculture facility here.

• Learn more about open ocean aquaculture.

Take Action!

There will be a series of public hearings—hosted by a number of federal and state regulatory agencies—held over the following weeks to examine this project.  It is imperative that we speak out together to oppose this unprecedented aquaculture business endeavor. Stay tuned for a list of public hearings.

In addition, a number of local citizens, fishermen, and environmentalists are working to oppose this plan.  In order to get more information and find out how you can get involved, please contact Sam Schabacker with Food & Water Watch.