September 1, 2020

 

US President Donald Trump looks to develop offshore aquaculture in the country

 

US President Donald Trump seeks to boost the United States aquaculture industry including expanding offshore aquaculture, but the controversial move has been panned by environmentalists, Fish Information & Services reported.

 

The move by the US President aims to tackle a seafood deficit in the country, where nine-tenths of seafood consumed by Americans are imported.

 

One federal government report found that the seafood trade gap with other countries approached $17 billion in 2017.

 

In May, the US President announced an executive order to expedite the development of offshore aquaculture in deep federal waters. Currently, aquaculture in the US covers salmon, oysters and other seafood items grown near the shore.

 

The executive order, currently being implemented looks to reduce the burden on fish farmers. However, environmental groups have opposed the move saying it adds to pollution and over-development of the sea especially as consumers have turned away from seafood.

 

Paul Doremus, deputy assistant administrator for operations at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Marine Fisheries Service said the executive order aims to boost domestic aquaculture production.

 

Joel Richardson, spokesman for Canada-based seafood giant Cooke Aquaculture voiced support for the US government's move.

 

Hallie Templeton, Friends of the Earth senior oceans campaigner said it isn't the correct time to boost domestic aquaculture, citing 90% drop in seafood sales during the early weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic and that offshore fish farms are more likely to cause sea pollution.

 

Recently, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals said on August 3 that NOAA's fisheries authority does not cover offshore fish farms, which derailed rules regulating Gulf of Mexico aquaculture facilities.

 

Paul Zajicek, National Aquaculture Association executive director, said the executive order seeks to take down barriers for aquaculture farming in the country. Scot Mackey, director of government affairs for the Garden State Seafood Association said the order will further boost the industry and help it overcome its current crisis.

 

Neville Crabbe, Atlantic Salmon Federation spokesman, a conservation group, said the focus should be towards expanding land-based aquaculture instead.

 

-      Fish Information & Services