Gulf Council Walking on Thin Ice: Congressman Rahall Opposes Regional Ocean Fish Farming Plan
2008-10-27
CONTACT:
Marianne Cufone or Erin Greenfield
(202) 683-2500
Gulf Council Walking on Thin Ice: Congressman Rahall Opposes Regional Ocean Fish Farming Plan
Statement of Wenonah Hauter, Food & Water Watch Executive Director
"Food & Water Watch applauds Representative Nick Rahall (D-WV), Chair of the House of Representatives Natural Resources Committee, for strongly advising the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), and the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council to stop approval of a regional plan to permit offshore aquaculture in federal Gulf waters. NOAA and NMFS have been supporting the Council’s action on the plan, based on a questionable interpretation of current federal law.
“According to the letter sent yesterday by Congressman Rahall, the Council has no authority under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act, the primary law that regulates federal fisheries, to create a commercial ocean fish farming industry in the Gulf. This mirrors the position Food & Water Watch has taken for more than a year on the Council’s plan. We also told the Council that they are unable to make rules for all important aspects of ocean fish farming, like controlling pollutants and what the fish are fed; therefore, establishing this new industry through the Council process would be a fragmented and incomplete approach. Additionally, the Council’s rules may conflict with any national legislation that Congress could pass in the future, wasting time, energy, and taxpayer dollars on a plan that might be invalidated.
“Given the various potential environmental and economic problems, immense public opposition, and now congressional concern with the Gulf Council’s ocean fish farming plan, Gulf Council members should vote “no” at their October 27-30, 2008 meeting when the plan is raised for a final decision.”
To view Congressman Rahall’s letter, please visit: http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org//press/releases/rahall-letter-to-gulf-council
Food & Water Watch is a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit consumer rights organization that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org.