Fact Sheet

What the Public Says About the Proposed

Plan for Aquaculture in the Gulf

A t their meeting from October 27-30, 2008, the Gulf of Mexico Fishery Manage-
ment Council will vote to approve a plan that would allow the mass production
of fish in huge floating cages out in our Gulf waters. Despite the Council’s limited
publicity of the plan and a questionable development process — mostly behind
closed doors, outside public forums — thousands and thousands of people have writ-
ten in or attended public hearings to voice their concern and opposition since initial
discussions about offshore aquaculture in 2003.
As of August 2008, the Gulf Council received about 10,125
letters expressing concern with the plan, and a mere six
comments expressing support for the plan. In other
words, there have been 1,688 times as many com-
ments opposing the plan as there have been in sup-
port of it. Diminishing the strength of these six comment
letters further, they were solicited by the Council when they
initially prepared a scoping document to develop a plan. At
public hearings, people have voiced concern 117 times and
spoken in favor of aquaculture aquaculture only 22 times.
Most of these 22 comments came from people who are asso-
ciated with aquaculture or hope to benefit financially in the
future from aquaculture in the Gulf.

Here’s a Sample of What the Public Said About the
Plan at Hearings:
“We don’t want it. We don’t want it in Louisiana, Mis-
sissippi, Texas, Alabama or anywhere on the Gulf Coast,
period. Louisiana fishery is the best in the nation, and
we don’t want to do anything that would possibly jeopar-
dize it.”
– Charlie Smith, Louisiana Charterboat Association and
Gumbo Alliance
What: The final hearing on the Aquaculture Fishery
Management Plan
When: October 27
Where: Mobile, Alabama
Why: Tell the Gulf Council to listen to the public and
vote against approval of this bad plan
More information: Call Christina at 724.816.8350
Fish crowded in a huge, floating offshore cage. Similar cages are
proposed for Gulf waters and could be harmful for the fishing industry
and the environment. Photo courtesy of NOAA.
“We are diametrically opposed to this. This is an issue
that really has blindsided us… It seems like there has
been no studies done, nothing scientific, to show that
this is a good thing or even a viable thing that we should
be considering. The billions and billions of dollars that a
recreational and commercial fishery brings in the United
States cannot be jeopardized by an interest that’s prob-
ably going to end up being out of the country.”
– Joseph Petrucco, Islamorada Charterboat Association,
Florida
“Aquaculture is a bad idea. The potential impact from
disease exists and the Gulf does not need any more stress
to the environment. It will only benefit the owner of the
unit, and it will ultimately affect the price of wild fish.”
– Anthony Soldano, Key West Charterboat Association,
Florida
 “This is a unique issue, in my opinion. Rarely do I have
the opportunity to come and represent both the recre-
ational and commercial fisherpeople in our community
and they are all concerned about this matter.”
–Deborah Dawkins, State Senator from West Harrison
County, Mississippi

“With our experience of farm-raised shrimp, the news of

offshore marine aquaculture being developed in the Gulf
of Mexico raises great concerns for us… consolidation
of seafood production… the collapse of coastal fishing
communities… the collapse of fish prices… the loss of
fishing family viability with the collapse of prices and
bankruptcy… the loss of additional fishing grounds.”
– Maxie Ngo on behalf of Port Arthur Area Shrimpers’
Association, Texas

So why would the Council move forward with approving a

plan that so many people oppose?

Come with us to the final hearing on the Aquacul-

ture Fishery Management Plan in Mobile, Alabama
on October 27 and tell the Gulf Council to listen
to the public and vote against approval of this bad
plan. Call Christina at 724.816.8350 for more infor-
mation.

“One of the concerns that really comes out is the fact that
I haven’t seen any concerns [brought up] as far as the For more information:
economic and social effect of this process on local and web: www.foodandwaterwatch.org
traditional fishers… Where does the traditional fisher- email: info@fwwatch.org
men, or those folks that are currently making a living pro- phone: (202) 683-2500
ducing fish, where are they going to be in this process?”
– Ernie Anderson, Organized Seafood Association of Copyright © October 2008 Food & Water Watch
Alabama