To: Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council
Stop the Trump administration from industrializing our Gulf with floating factory farms!
Dear Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council,
I was alarmed to hear that the Council is preparing to approve a new marine finfish aquaculture project in the Gulf of Mexico, just off Florida’s coast. I am writing to the Council to voice my opposition to this facility in waters near my home, and to marine finfish aquaculture everywhere.
These underwater feedlots are bad news all around. They are horrible for the environment and public health. They can cause massive, catastrophic fish spills –- like the release of more than 263,000 Atlantic salmon from a floating feedlot in Washington State –- which spread disease, risk genetic degradation, and create unnecessary competition with our already struggling native fish stocks.
These industrial fish farms directly discharge into our waters a whole host of pollutants aside from spilling farmed fish, including anti-foulants, excess feed, and untreated fish waste. They attract and harm predators and other wildlife. They are corporate-driven, which only means higher profits at the expense of sustainable operations and quality products. These factory farms are leading to the demise of our wild fishing communities and related industries by placing downward pressure on fishing prices and creating competition for limited marine space.
Despite Kampachi’s current plan to operate a “small-scale” facility, it has made clear that it will concurrently seek a commercial permit for a larger facility. To approve the current permit would open the floodgates to massive fish farms, and put our Gulf waters and coastal communities at significant risk.
NOAA is charged with protecting our oceans and conserving marine species and their habitats. Allowing industrial ocean fish farms in our oceans contradicts each aspect of this mission. I’m joining my Gulf neighbors today to protest industrial ocean fish farming, and call for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and NOAA to deny the requested operation permit for Kampachi Farms, LLC to operate a marine finfish aquaculture facility in our Gulf waters.
I urge you to do everything you can to stop industrializing our oceans with factory fish farms, and instead support truly sustainable seafood production alternatives.
Thank you,
I was alarmed to hear that the Council is preparing to approve a new marine finfish aquaculture project in the Gulf of Mexico, just off Florida’s coast. I am writing to the Council to voice my opposition to this facility in waters near my home, and to marine finfish aquaculture everywhere.
These underwater feedlots are bad news all around. They are horrible for the environment and public health. They can cause massive, catastrophic fish spills –- like the release of more than 263,000 Atlantic salmon from a floating feedlot in Washington State –- which spread disease, risk genetic degradation, and create unnecessary competition with our already struggling native fish stocks.
These industrial fish farms directly discharge into our waters a whole host of pollutants aside from spilling farmed fish, including anti-foulants, excess feed, and untreated fish waste. They attract and harm predators and other wildlife. They are corporate-driven, which only means higher profits at the expense of sustainable operations and quality products. These factory farms are leading to the demise of our wild fishing communities and related industries by placing downward pressure on fishing prices and creating competition for limited marine space.
Despite Kampachi’s current plan to operate a “small-scale” facility, it has made clear that it will concurrently seek a commercial permit for a larger facility. To approve the current permit would open the floodgates to massive fish farms, and put our Gulf waters and coastal communities at significant risk.
NOAA is charged with protecting our oceans and conserving marine species and their habitats. Allowing industrial ocean fish farms in our oceans contradicts each aspect of this mission. I’m joining my Gulf neighbors today to protest industrial ocean fish farming, and call for the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and NOAA to deny the requested operation permit for Kampachi Farms, LLC to operate a marine finfish aquaculture facility in our Gulf waters.
I urge you to do everything you can to stop industrializing our oceans with factory fish farms, and instead support truly sustainable seafood production alternatives.
Thank you,
Why is this important?
The Trump administration is considering handing over our oceans to industrial ocean fish farms. These massive operations are essentially floating factory farms that devastate our ocean ecosystem, public health, society and the economy.
Now, the Gulf Fishery Management Council is considering whether to permit a farm in Gulf waters. So the Council needs to hear from you that it should be protecting our Gulf waters, not hand them over to mega-corporations and factory farms.
Now, the Gulf Fishery Management Council is considering whether to permit a farm in Gulf waters. So the Council needs to hear from you that it should be protecting our Gulf waters, not hand them over to mega-corporations and factory farms.