October 26, 2007

Offshore aquaculture in the US Gulf of Mexico draws flak from fishermen

A plan by the US's National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to use the Gulf of Aquaculture is drawing flak from the Food & Water Watch.

The plan to allow industrial fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico could threaten the half a billion dollar a year commercial fishing industries and the more than five billion dollars of annual economic activity connected to recreational fishing in the region, Food and Water Watch said.

It may also throw open the door for foreign companies to invest and grow fish in large pens and cages in these waters.

Such a plan could has the potential to be an environmental and economic disaster, according to FWW Executive Director Wenonah Hauter

The group, which is also supported by two fishing organisations from the Gulf and Alaskan fishermen, says that the Gulf Council's plan - the Generic Offshore Aquaculture Amendment - fails to consider the negative economic consequences of ocean fish farming.

While the wild fisheries are heavily regulated the Gulf Council and NOAA are willing to ease the way for aquaculture with little regard for the environment, fishermen said.