Food & Water Watch Applauds Senator Vitter for Helping Put Brakes on Gulf of Mexico Offshore Fish Farming

Food & Water Watch Applauds Senator Vitter for Helping Put Brakes on Gulf of Mexico Offshore Fish Farming

Statement of Food & Water Watch Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

“Food & Water Watch, a national consumer advocacy organization, applauds Senator Vitter of Louisiana for introducing an amendment to the annual appropriations bill for Departments of Commerce and Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies to slow regulations that would for the first time allow development of ocean fish farms in U.S. federal waters.  Ocean fish farming, or offshore aquaculture, is the mass-production of fish in huge floating net pens or cages about three to 200 miles from shore.

“On September 3, 2009, James Balsiger, acting assistant administrator for fisheries, sent a letter to the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council notifying members that their plan to allow development of offshore aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico had become effective by default under existing law. If the Department of Commerce fails to approve, partially approve or disapprove a council plan, it becomes effective as if it had been formally approved. The next step in the process would be development of regulations to issue permits, and soon after, industrial fish farming facilities could operate in the Gulf.

“Senator Vitter’s amendment, introduced on October 8, 2009, would prevent use of any government funds allocated under the appropriations bill to issue permits under the Gulf Council plan until the impacts of ocean fish farms, and the ways they will be regulated, are assessed. There are many known concerns associated with ocean fish farming, and Senator Vitter recognized that simply allowing development of such facilities is dangerous and irresponsible.

“The Department of Commerce had a long time to review the Gulf Plan. Rather than fulfilling its legal obligations to the public by carefully considering whether the plan should be approved, Commerce simply allowed it to pass into effect. This is one reason Food & Water Watch filed a lawsuit last week challenging the Department of Commerce and the primary agencies involved with developing the plan – National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Service. Now Congress is involved as well, and hopefully ocean fish farms will not move forward in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Although this amendment is a step in the right direction to help protect us and our oceans from a potentially ecologically destructive and economically devastating plan, we need Congress to do more. If the U.S. hopes to reduce reliance on imported seafood, maintain healthy oceans, and support struggling fishermen, we should be researching more innovative aquaculture technologies that have fewer environmental impacts and do not need to compete with wild-capture fisheries – like land-based, re-circulating systems. Commonly called RAS, these closed-loop facilities retain and treat the water in the system. This method of fish farming can reduce discharge of waste, need for antibiotics or chemicals used to combat disease, and fish and parasite escapes. RAS are not connected to open waters, and therefore can be used to grow a wide range of plants and fish without threatening the environment or competing with fishermen. Innovative technologies are being used to reduce energy usage and wild fish in feed for RAS. We hope Senator Vitter and others in Congress interested in aquaculture issues look into the development of RAS.”

Food & Water Watch, a nonprofit consumer organization based in Washington, D.C., works to ensure clean water and safe food in the United States and around the world. We work with various community outreach groups around the world to create an economically and environmentally viable future. We advocate for safe, wholesome food produced in a humane and sustainable manner, and public rather than private control of water resources, including oceans, rivers and groundwater. The Food & Water Watch Fish Program works to promote clean, green, safe seafood for consumers, while helping to protect the environment and support coastal communities. For more information, visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.

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