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Published: September 9, 2009
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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) will not oppose a plan for offshore aquaculture submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and so as of 3 September commercial fish farming will be allowed in the federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The news comes as a great disappointment to the environmental and fishing groups who were hoping that Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke would block the Gulf Council’s plan, thereby allowing more time and consideration to be given to a future, more comprehensive national aquaculture policy. The Marine Fish Conservation Network issued a press release calling the plan “irresponsible” and “fundamentally flawed,” claiming that it displays “a lack of national standards, a lack of legal authority, and a lack of adequate environmental safeguards.”
Christopher Mann, Senior Officer at the Pew Environmental Group, released a statement claiming flaws in the plan, namely that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is a body whose sole raison d’etre is to carry out the provisions of the Magnuson Stevens Act, which applies only to wild stocks. “This plan would allow offshore fish farming to be regulated under the law intended to manage wild fish populations, not farmed fish,” Mann said. “In addition, moving forward with a piecemeal approach to marine aquaculture regulation could undermine the President's goal of developing a national ocean policy.”
Rick Leard, the Deputy Executive Director of the Gulf Council disagrees, saying that the plan is both comprehensive and extensive. "Our Council did a thorough job of looking at all the implications of aquaculture in the Gulf," said Leard. NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Jim Balsiger said, "we are interested in aquaculture done correctly."
The Marine Fish Conservation Network, among others, is calling on Congress for action. “Before this regional ad hoc approach continues, it is time for Congress to develop legislation to create a coordinated national framework for open ocean aquaculture. We need clear environmental performance standards to regulate this nascent industry. With a new Administration, a new Congress, and new leadership at Commerce and NOAA, there is no better time to develop these standards,” said the organization in its press release. NOAA has agreed, saying it will push for a national aquaculture policy.
source: Fishlink Sublegals
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Published: September 9, 2009
Print
EmailThe National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) will not oppose a plan for offshore aquaculture submitted by the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council, and so as of 3 September commercial fish farming will be allowed in the federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. The news comes as a great disappointment to the environmental and fishing groups who were hoping that Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke would block the Gulf Council’s plan, thereby allowing more time and consideration to be given to a future, more comprehensive national aquaculture policy. The Marine Fish Conservation Network issued a press release calling the plan “irresponsible” and “fundamentally flawed,” claiming that it displays “a lack of national standards, a lack of legal authority, and a lack of adequate environmental safeguards.”
Christopher Mann, Senior Officer at the Pew Environmental Group, released a statement claiming flaws in the plan, namely that the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is a body whose sole raison d’etre is to carry out the provisions of the Magnuson Stevens Act, which applies only to wild stocks. “This plan would allow offshore fish farming to be regulated under the law intended to manage wild fish populations, not farmed fish,” Mann said. “In addition, moving forward with a piecemeal approach to marine aquaculture regulation could undermine the President's goal of developing a national ocean policy.”
Rick Leard, the Deputy Executive Director of the Gulf Council disagrees, saying that the plan is both comprehensive and extensive. "Our Council did a thorough job of looking at all the implications of aquaculture in the Gulf," said Leard. NOAA Assistant Administrator for Fisheries Jim Balsiger said, "we are interested in aquaculture done correctly."
The Marine Fish Conservation Network, among others, is calling on Congress for action. “Before this regional ad hoc approach continues, it is time for Congress to develop legislation to create a coordinated national framework for open ocean aquaculture. We need clear environmental performance standards to regulate this nascent industry. With a new Administration, a new Congress, and new leadership at Commerce and NOAA, there is no better time to develop these standards,” said the organization in its press release. NOAA has agreed, saying it will push for a national aquaculture policy.
source: Fishlink Sublegals
Submit Article