To: Sen. John Kennedy (LA-2)
Keeping Offshore Aquaculture Out of the Gulf
Senator, because you have been such a long-standing, strong leader in speaking out against open water aquaculture in the past, we urge you to again stand up to prevent finfish farming in our Gulf. We hope you will move forward to re-introduce a bill to prevent ocean fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond through the existing fishery management process.
Why is this important?
Under the new regulations, NMFS/NOAA would be able to grant permits for ocean aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico. There are numerous problems with ocean aquaculture that will have direct negative impacts on Louisiana and its residents. Offshore aquaculture can jeopardize the health and wellbeing of wild fish through spread ing disease and pollution, which in turn hurts our already struggling fishing industry. In addition, offshore aquaculture facilities will compete for space historically used for both commercial and recreational fishing, among other uses. For the protection of the Gulf and preservation of Louisiana's fishing industry, we urge you to prevent offshore aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico.