New Bill on Offshore Fish Farming Misses the Mark on Environmental Protections
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Dr. Rebecca Goldberg, (917) 912-0333
(March 12, 2007 - Washington, DC) - Environmental Defense criticized a new proposed bill by the National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration (NOAA) that would create the first permitting system in this country for fish farms—or aquaculture – in deep ocean waters. The proposal was announced this afternoon by Commerce Secretary Gutierrez at the Boston Seafood Show and will be available online at www.aquaculture.noaa.gov .
“Consumer demand for healthy food – and seafood in particular – is flying high,” said Environmental Defense senior scientist Dr. Rebecca Goldburg. “Fish farming can help meet this demand, but only if it is done right. This means avoiding additional ocean pollution, preventing escapes of farmed fish and minimizing the spread of parasites and disease to wild fish populations. Unfortunately, this bill does not require that these key environmental impacts be minimized.”
In addition, most offshore aquaculture requires more fish to be caught for feed than it actually produces. “The unfortunate irony in many fish farming schemes is that they don’t make economic or environmental sense,” said Goldburg. “The fish targeted for offshore farms, such as cod, halibut and tuna, are carnivores and thus are fed fish to grow. We’re depleting one pool of resources to augment another.”
Legislation similar to the bill announced today was introduced to the U.S. Senate in June 2005 by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) as a courtesy to NOAA. That bill was heavily criticized by environmental and fishing organizations and never made it out of committee. “Unfortunately,” commented Goldburg, “NOAA has still not added key legal requirements essential to protecting the marine environment.”
For more on our oceans program, visit www.oceansalive.org.
With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org
Latest press releases
-
Degrees Podcast Launches New Miniseries: “Connection as a Climate Solution”
October 2, 2025 -
Trump Administration's Partisan Energy Project Cancellations Will Raise Electricity Costs
October 2, 2025 -
EDF Experts Urge Trump EPA Not to Eliminate Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program
October 1, 2025 -
Short-sighted Duke Energy Plan Recognizes Benefits of Solar and Battery Storage While Still Extending Outdated, Expensive Coal in North Carolina
October 1, 2025 -
Groups Challenge the Trump Administration’s Illegal Emergency Order for Eddystone Plant in Court
September 29, 2025 -
Trump Administration’s Subsidies for Costly Coal Saddle Families with High Bills, More Pollution
September 29, 2025