Take action now: Show NOAA that we will not stand for factory farms in our waters!

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration is considering putting industrial ocean fish farms in our oceans. These are essentially underwater factory farms and feedlots in our ocean. They have devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts.

The Administration is required to consider public input on this plan. We need your help to stop this disastrous industry in its tracks!

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Dear NOAA officials,

I am alarmed that the Department of Commerce’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan includes NOAA’s mission to promote and increase marine finfish aquaculture production in the United States. I am writing to voice my opposition to any encouragement or legitimization of this destructive industry.

Marine finfish aquaculture poses serious environmental and socio-economic risks, as we have seen in other countries like Canada, Scotland, and Norway. These facilities cause massive, catastrophic fish spills -- like the release of more than 263,000 Atlantic salmon from a floating feedlot in Washington State -- which spread disease, risk genetic degradation, and create unnecessary competition with our already struggling native fish stocks.

Fish farm operations directly discharge into our waters a whole host of pollutants aside from spilling farmed fish, including anti-foulants, excess feed, veterinary drug residues, and untreated fish waste. They attract and harm predators and other wildlife. They are also corporate-driven, which only means higher profits at the expense of sustainable operations and quality products. These factory farms are leading to the demise of our wild-capture fishing communities and related industries by placing downward pressure on fishing prices and creating competition for limited marine space.

Despite claims from industry proponents, the industry is not sustainable. Many of its inherent risks simply cannot be mitigated or avoided, which means that they should not be ignored by agency officials. As such, it is deeply concerning that NOAA has taken on the dual role of marine finfish aquaculture promotion and regulation/enforcement.

NOAA is charged with protecting our oceans and conserving marine species and their habitats. Allowing industrial ocean fish farms in our oceans contradicts each aspect of this mission. I’m joining my fellow Americans to protest industrial ocean fish farming, and call for NOAA to finally put an end to this incongruous mission.

I urge you to do everything you can to stop industrializing our oceans with factory fish farms, and instead support truly sustainable seafood production alternatives.

Thank you,

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