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Consumer Group Commends Legislation to Stop MMS “Rigs to Fish Farms” Plan in Its Tracks

Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch Executive Director

"Food & Water Watch applauds and strongly supports Representative Young (R-AK) for introducing legislation that would prevent the U.S. Minerals Management Service (MMS) and other Department of Interior agencies from approving currently pending rules to open federal ocean waters to industrial fish farming. This new bill re-affirms Food & Water Watch’s long time position – that MMS does not have the expertise nor the authority to permit a new big industry like ocean fish farming.

“Our organization has always opposed the MMS plan to allow ocean aquaculture – a plan that recently was also widely criticized by many members of Congress. H.R. 7109 follows on the heels of a bi-partisan letter sent to MMS by Congressman Nick Rahall (D-WV), Chair of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, Congresswoman Madeline Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), Chair of the Natural Resources Committee’s Fisheries, Wildlife, and Oceans Subcommittee, and 12 other members, that stated MMS does not have the legal authority, or the necessary expertise, to permit fish farms to operate in federal waters using energy companies’ oil rigs or other energy facilities.

"There have been several proposed federal bills to promote ocean fish farming in recent years, and to date, Congress has refused to approve them due to, lack of sufficient safeguards to protect the marine environment and economies of coastal communities, among other reasons. This MMS proposal is a back door way to allow a potentially very problematic industry to develop. Now, Congress members are questioning why MMS is trying to do an end-run around their legislative authority and decided to take action to stop it. 

"We commend House members for showing strong leadership on this issue, and encourage MMS to pay heed to the growing backlash against their ‘energy facilities to fish farms’ rule. MMS should immediately end any plans to finalize the portion of their rule that would allow industrial fish farming in federal waters."

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.