Tell Congress: Protect our oceans from floating factory farms!

The federal government is trying to permit industrial ocean fish farms in federal ocean waters without Congressional authorization. These fish farms pollute our coastal waters with pesticides and chemicals -- putting our ocean habitats in danger.

Your legislators could protect our coastal waters -- but they won't act unless they hear from you.

Dear Member,

I was excited to hear that Representative Young introduced the Keep Finfish Free Act (H.R. 274) in the first week of the new Congress. This bill would prohibit commercial permitting of marine finfish aquaculture in federal waters, unless and until Congress passes a future law authorizing such permits. I fully support this important legislation and encourage you to do all you can to support this bill by cosponsoring in the House or introducing a companion in the Senate.

I am extremely concerned that the Trump Administration totally ignored the significant impacts that these factory fish farms could have on the environment and protected species. The National Oceanic and Administration Act, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers all continue to prioritize the growth of this industry – and have moved toward streamlined permitting of commercial facilities – all without explicit congressional authorization or weigh-in. The Keep Finfish Free Act would prevent unchecked agency action and ensure that Congress has a say in whether and how this potentially disastrous new industry should be permitted and regulated along our shores.

I am disturbed over the potential impacts this new industry could bring to our wild-capture fishing industries and other marine- and coastal-reliant communities. There are a number of inherent impacts from the marine finfish aquaculture industry that cannot be mitigated or avoided. No amount of environmental and socio-economic safeguards will sufficiently protect the ocean ecosystem, coastal communities, and consumers. Other countries have suffered severe consequences from this industry, many of which are too devastating for restoration. In fact, Denmark just announced that it was ending the destructive industry in its waters, and shifting toward land-based facilities out of concern for the environment. We must heed the same caution.

Commercial fishermen will be forced to directly compete with farmed fish in the marketplace, and will directly suffer from a degraded ocean ecosystem.  Further, permitting massive aquaculture facilities in federal waters will privatize already limited marine space, preventing others from accessing public waterways.

I respectfully request you to do everything you can to prioritize supporting the Keep Finfish Free Act (H.R. 274). Please cosponsor in the House, or introduce a Senate companion to this vital and timely legislation. Please prevent unlawful and unauthorized permitting of marine finfish aquaculture in our waterways.

Thank you,
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