Comment from Jeffrey Dubinsky

I am very concerned over the continued push for aquaculture in our already struggling Gulf of Mexico. Open water aqua culture has shown time and again that it is harmful to the eco-ssytem in which it is located. Both through pollution from fecal matter, the excess food that gets into the eco system (chicken, soy etc. is not meant to be dumped into our oceans to grow fish). Further the eventual escape of hybrid or invasive species being farmed will have unknown consequences to an already pressured system. Please do not grant permits, sanction or continue to expend tax dollars studying the feasibility of Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico. In stead you should take my comments as reasons to abandon any thought of permitting such fisheries. Thank you, Jeffrey