Fish farming is coming soon to our Gulf waters: concerns for consumers and the environment

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council and the National Marine Fisheries Service are federal bodies that make decisions about fishing in U.S. waters. Right now they are finishing a plan to allow the growing of fish in huge floating cages out in our Gulf waters. This is called “ocean fish farming”, “open ocean aquaculture” or “offshore aquaculture”. Whatever the name, it could cause serious problems for consumers and the environment! How?

• More fish at lower prices does not mean good quality – Farmed fish are bred to grow fast, reproduce often in overstocked stationary cages prone to disease and parasites and may be exposed to assorted antibiotics and other chemicals to combat illnesses and algae and barnacles. Fish feeds contain concentrates of wild fish exposed to mercury in the wild, and the farmed fish can have high levels of mercury from the feed.;
• We export our good stuff and eat imports - Currently the U.S. exports 71 percent of its domestic production, including tilapia, tuna, salmon, crabs, and some shrimp. Ironically, these all are among the six top seafood imports. Essentially, we are sending our U.S. fish abroad where it fetches a higher price, and serving our own citizens imported fish, often of a lesser quality, that is cheaper;
• Farms can infect wild fish - Farmed fish are held in captivity, usually in much higher numbers than would be normal in the wild. Cramped quarters, concentrated fish wastes, stress and other factors are often breeding grounds for illness. In Norway, there have been numerous problems with farmed salmon spreading diseases to wild salmon.;
• Farms could pollute the environment and wildlife - Concentrated amounts of fish food, fish waste and any chemicals or antibiotics that may be used to treat the fish to kill parasites and diseases or to keep cages free of algae and barnacles will flow straight into ocean waters through the open cages. Environmental problems have been reported at one of the nation’s four experimental fish farms.

Use the form below to send a message to Larry McKinney, Director of Coastal Fisheries, Texas Parks and Wildlife. Let Larry know that the public needs more time and information to understand the potential impacts of ocean fish farming before the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council considers any plan to allow development of this new indsutry in the Gulf. You can also call Larry McKinney at (512) 389-4725.

Dear Mr. McKinney, Industrial fish farms can use chemicals, hormones, anti-fungal agents, and fish feeds with known carcinogens and heavy metals such as mercury, all of which can make it onto consumer's dinner plates. They also can harm wild fish populations and the marine environment by using large quantities of wild fish to feed farmed fish, by polluting the local marine environment, and through escapes of farmed fish. Finally, industrial fish farming can harm coastal economies by decreasing the numbers of wild fish and by depressing wild fish prices received by fishing communities. I urge you to: - Protect consumers from farmed fish containing chemicals, hormones, antibiotics, heavy metals, and any other dangerous substances; - Preserve the marine environment by limiting the use of wild fish to feed farmed fish, prohibiting the farming of genetically engineered and non-native fish, and taking other necessary measures to protect wild fish and prevent pollution; - Promote viable coastal economies by protecting small-scale fishing businesses; - Empower citizens by establishing mandatory environmental standards and allowing citizens to challenge fish farms that violate these standards. Sincerely, [your name] [your address]

Send to:

Dr. Larry McKinney
4200 Smith School Road
Austin, TX 78737