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The Minerals Management Service (MMS), a bureau of the Department of the Interior, is to trying to allow development of huge ocean fish farms on America's outer continental shelf (OCS) - an expansive area that stretches from 3 to 200 nautical miles offshore.
 
MMS is holding meetings around the country and accepting public comment on this risky proposal through September 8th. Please read on to send your comment today!
 
As part of their proposed 'Alternative Energy and Alternate Uses' plan, they intend to allow existing and new energy facilities - such as oil rigs and wind farms - to be used as parent sites for the development of polluting, industrial scale open ocean aquaculture facilities.

Congress has refused to approve any legislation enabling establishment of an open ocean aquaculture industry for various reasons: including, public concerns about pollution; the use of wild fish to feed captive fish; harm to ocean wildlife; and social and economic impacts to fishermen and coastal communities.

In addition to side-stepping Congress, the Bush Administration proposal ignores advice from the Federal Government's own Government Accountability Office, and the U.S. Ocean Policy Commission with respect to the need for a comprehensive management framework to be developed before open ocean aquaculture moves forward in the U.S.
 
Instead, MMS has put forward a short-sighted and risky proposal which fails to have strong standards limiting aquaculture facilities' impacts from fish waste and fish feed effluent, use of fishmeal and fish oil, escapes, and disease, all of which can harm the marine environment and the fishing communities that rely on them. 
 
MMS is currently taking public comments and holding "workshops" for the Proposed Rule, and the related Draft Environment Assessment that outlines the Alternative Energy and Alternate Uses program.
 
1. Take Action: Send your comment to MMS today! Comments are due by Monday, September 8th.
 
2. You can attend a public workshop and ask questions of the MMS. Public Workshops on the Proposed Rule for Developing OCS Alternative Energy Resources, and Alternate Uses of Existing Facilities on the Outer Continental Shelf. Click the "Tell Me More" link for the list of scheduled meetings.