As overfishing, poor fisheries management, and increasing seafood demand have led to a rapidly dwindling population of wild fish worldwide, aquaculture is being billed by some as the next –– and only practical –– frontier in fish and seafood production.
Despite some inland and near shore fish farming producing pollution that can threaten human health and the environment, the federal government now wants to allow aquaculture in our oceans. Indeed, the Bush administration is pushing Congress to approve a new federal law that would open our federal waters –– typically anywhere between three and 200 miles from shore –– to industrial fish farming. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, argue that allowing open ocean aquaculture, also known as offshore aquaculture, or ocean fish farming, is the best solution to our country’s seafood trade deficit. Ocean fish farming proponents fail to mention that the drugs and chemicals, sometimes used to keep the thousands of fish crammed into cages free from disease and the cages clean, can harm consumers and wreak havoc on the environment. In addition to those chemicals and drugs, fish waste and processed fish food escape into the surrounding marine environment, combining for a real mess. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency supposedly regulate what –– and how –– chemicals and drugs are used in aquaculture, and the industry’s effects on the environment. Unfortunately, neither agency has sufficient regulations in place to keep our seafood safe and our waters clean. Until a stronger and more effective regulatory system is established for FDA and EPA to adequately oversee existing inland and coastal fish farms, we should not even consider allowing offshore aquaculture.
I. Food & Drug Administration
If open ocean aquaculture is allowed as proposed, it will likely be plagued by the problems inherent to other aquaculture facilities. For example, fish farmers generally need dangerous drugs and chemicals to keep diseased fish from dying in cramped, unnatural conditions. Although it’s against the rules,1 they also inappropriately use drugs and chemicals to stimulate unnatural growth, affect reproduction and tranquilize fish for transport.2
Without regulation, these practices in offshore aquaculture, as in other aquaculture, will be dangerous for public health. Although drugs might help aquaculture operations sell more fish, they can harm consumers. Many drugs used in aquaculture are hazardous to humans because they leave residues in the treated fish that can cause allergic reactions and even cancer.3 In addition, many of the drugs used are antibiotics, which can create antibiotic resistance in microbes that can infect the humans who eat them.
Despite some inland and near shore fish farming producing pollution that can threaten human health and the environment, the federal government now wants to allow aquaculture in our oceans. Indeed, the Bush administration is pushing Congress to approve a new federal law that would open our federal waters –– typically anywhere between three and 200 miles from shore –– to industrial fish farming. Officials from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce, argue that allowing open ocean aquaculture, also known as offshore aquaculture, or ocean fish farming, is the best solution to our country’s seafood trade deficit. Ocean fish farming proponents fail to mention that the drugs and chemicals, sometimes used to keep the thousands of fish crammed into cages free from disease and the cages clean, can harm consumers and wreak havoc on the environment. In addition to those chemicals and drugs, fish waste and processed fish food escape into the surrounding marine environment, combining for a real mess. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency supposedly regulate what –– and how –– chemicals and drugs are used in aquaculture, and the industry’s effects on the environment. Unfortunately, neither agency has sufficient regulations in place to keep our seafood safe and our waters clean. Until a stronger and more effective regulatory system is established for FDA and EPA to adequately oversee existing inland and coastal fish farms, we should not even consider allowing offshore aquaculture.
I. Food & Drug Administration
If open ocean aquaculture is allowed as proposed, it will likely be plagued by the problems inherent to other aquaculture facilities. For example, fish farmers generally need dangerous drugs and chemicals to keep diseased fish from dying in cramped, unnatural conditions. Although it’s against the rules,1 they also inappropriately use drugs and chemicals to stimulate unnatural growth, affect reproduction and tranquilize fish for transport.2
Without regulation, these practices in offshore aquaculture, as in other aquaculture, will be dangerous for public health. Although drugs might help aquaculture operations sell more fish, they can harm consumers. Many drugs used in aquaculture are hazardous to humans because they leave residues in the treated fish that can cause allergic reactions and even cancer.3 In addition, many of the drugs used are antibiotics, which can create antibiotic resistance in microbes that can infect the humans who eat them.
for more information visit to :http://www.foodandwaterwatch.org/fish/fish-farming/offshore/problems