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Claim that National Aquaculture Policy will pave way for Destructive Factory Fish Farming Industry in U.S. Waters.
“Just hours after World Oceans Day ended and during National Oceans Month, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA — the federal agency tasked with protecting U.S. oceans) and the U.S. Department of Commerce announced that they are moving forward with a national policy that would pave the way for dirty, crowded factory fish farming to flourish in U.S. waters," states Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director, Food & Water Watch
“Industrial ocean fish farming is a filthy way to produce fish, and contrary to NOAA’s claims, it is not a sustainable means to supplement the U.S. seafood supply, protect ocean resources, or promote a healthy economy in the United States," said the director.
She said the announcement would mean implementing plans to allow the set up of the first factory fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico. "The Gulf has already been battered by the oil industry – the last thing we need is enormous ocean fish farms that can and do spread disease, allow for millions of fish to escape, kill off wild populations, jeopardize the tourism industry, and further destroy the livelihood of local fishermen.”
“NOAA previously said that it would not move forward on its very controversial factory fish-farming plan for the Gulf until this aquaculture policy was finalised. Regrettably, the policy, which was finalised today, failed to rein in the Gulf fish farming plan, which, according to a Food & Water Watch analysis, could allow more than 8 .6 million farmed fish to escape unreported annually."
Food & Water Watch works to ensure the food, water and fish the US consumes is safe, accessible and sustainable.
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