I believe that marine aquaculture could significantly harm the environment, and
therefore human health, and the economies of local fishing communities. Offshore
aquaculture in the United States could pose many of the same documented
problems
as large-scale net pen and cage aquaculture have created around the world,
including, but not limited to pollution, escapement, and heavy use of wild fish
in feed.
From what I have read, pollution from aquaculture, fish feces and uneaten feed
flow freely out of cages and into the environment.
The escapement of salmon, halibut, and cod from ocean fish farms is another
chronic problem. This is really messing with the stability of and balance of the
Earth, something that we humans do in the name of growth, aka business, and
have
seen the ignorance way too late.
And furthermore, the species proposed for aquaculture in U.S. federal waters
rely on high quantities of fishmeal and fish oil to meet their dietary needs.
Finally, offshore aquaculture in the U.S. could cause negative socioeconomic
impacts through environmental impacts and by competing with the existing seafood
industry and communities. It is really a disgusting mess.
Oil, gas or other energy facilities, whether currently in use or not, are not
the appropriate location for offshore aquaculture operations. Had aquaculture
facilities existed on oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico during violent storms in
recent years, there could have been massive releases of captive fish, feed, and
other pollutants directly into ocean waters. Oil and gas rigs, or other energy
facilities, active or decommissioned, should not be substituted for best
available technology in open water aquaculture. MMS is not equipped to
comprehensively manage a new industry, especially one Congress has thus far
found to be a dubious endeavor.
There are currently two bills pending in Congress that would set up a permitting
regime for offshore aquaculture. Congress has thus far rejected these federal
bills, in part because they did not have strong environmental and socioeconomic
standards to guide the NOAA's decision-making. Without a bill with strong
environmental and socioeconomic protections, there should be no offshore
aquaculture facilities in U.S. federal waters.MMS should not use this rulemaking
to bypass Congress.
MMS should not finalize a program such as this one, which fails to have strong
standards limiting aquaculture facilities' impacts from fish waste and fish feed
effluent, use of fishmeal and fish oil, escapes, and disease, all of which can
harm the marine environment and the fishing communities that rely on them.
Thank you for taking my concerns under consideration.
Sincerely,
Alyson Garvey
Comment on FR Doc # E8-14911
This is comment on Proposed Rule
Alternative Energy and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf
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