Federal fishery managers began accepting public comments last week on a new aquaculture policy in waters from three to 200 miles offshore. The input will guide NOAA Fisheries as it creates a regulatory framework for open ocean fish farms.
An independent Marine Aquaculture Task Force that spent two years canvassing the country and studying the issue already has urged Congress to above all, ensure strong environmental standards are in place to regulate offshore farms.
"There is a complex jurisdictional framework over ocean space and to some extent, these laws cover the major issues of aquaculture expansion, but they are not well coordinated, they overlap in some issues and also there are a number of serious gaps in terms of issues not covered," said panel member Alison Rieser. "And there is no one lead federal agency that has the power to issue authorization for a private company to occupy a portion of the ocean space for commercial aquaculture and oversee potential impacts."
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Capital City Weekly.