Federal Dollars Allocated for Unapproved Offshore Fish Farming.
Tell Congress to Oppose Wasteful Spending!

President Obama has asked all parts of the U.S. government to curb spending on unnecessary projects, and NOAA should not be an exception. Federal money given to ocean fish farming – an unauthorized, potentially environmentally destructive and economically devastating program that is also publicly unpopular – is money misspent. Instead, Congress and the Obama Administration should be visionary and support research for more innovative aquaculture technologies, like land-based, re-circulating systems, to explore more sustainable options to meet our domestic seafood needs.

Offshore aquaculture, also called ocean fish farming or marine aquaculture, includes the mass production of fish in often-overcrowded, huge floating net-pens or cages in ocean waters. This industry could pollute our oceans and harm wildlife, and, if allowed to develop on a large scale, could seriously jeopardize the health and economies of coastal communities nationwide.  Learn more and take action now.

NOAA claims to need this funding for “time-sensitive research projects,” such as the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s plan to allow development of ocean fish farms in their region. However, this decision is not a done deal. The plan has not even reached NOAA for review and will be open to public comment when it is officially received.  Why would limited federal dollars desperately needed for so many important programs be pre-allocated for a project like this that has not even been approved?

Tell Congress to oppose wasteful government spending, like NOAA’s request for an increase in funding for industrial ocean fish farming.  Take action now!