During a recent phone discussion about the process to identify net pen aquaculture sites in the Gulf of Mexico, NOAA staff stated their belief is that the recreational fishing community has no problems with aquaculture operations.  TBF and others on the call objected, pointing out there is no blanket acceptance by our community. The Gulf of Mexico Aquaculture Plan calls for an estimated 5 to 20 offshore aquaculture operations to be permitted over the next 10 years, with an estimated annual production of up to 64 million pounds.

TBF opposes the operations, for they can: 

• exacerbate shark depredation on free swimming species near the concentration of caged fish
• contribute to nutrient loading from uneaten fish food pellets, waste and medicines given caged fish that ends up in Gulf waters that leads to red tide, which causes further damage to natural resources, businesses and fishing opportunities
• create no fishing zones in waters around the cages
• break loose in hurricanes or other high turbulent water events
• add diseases to free fish due to overstocking in cage
• releases parasites, pesticides and antibiotics into the Gulf waters
• allocation of wild fish will have to come from some fisheries allocation or contribute to overfishing.

Thank you for being on TBF’s team, we value your participation. Should you have questions, please contact me at (954) 202-9267 or via email at [email protected].  

Respectfully, 

Ellen M. Peel

President