May 11, 2006

California to set stricter environmental laws for fish farms

California's state Assembly passed a bill that would set stricter standards on fish farms in the US state, even though none exists there now. 

If passed by the Senate on Thursday (May 11), the Sustainable Oceans Act could deter fish farms from establishing itself in the state for the foreseeable future.

State Senator Joe Simitian, who sponsored the bill, said that it is only a matter of time before fish farms apply to set themselves up in California.

The law would ensure that diseases which are rife in fish farms, are not spread to fish in the waters around the state. The environmental law would also ensure that waste discharged from such farms would pose minimal harm to wildlife, the senator said.