The Ocean Stewards Institute has welcomed the recent action by the Federal Office of Management and Budget that approved the NOAA rule for implementation of the Aquaculture Fisheries Management Plan in the Gulf of Mexico.
“This is the culmination of over a decade’s diligent work by the Ocean Stewards Institute (OSI), other industry partners, the Gulf of Mexico Fisheries Management Council and Federal agencies, towards setting up a sustainable, commercial aquaculture industry in US Federal waters,” said Neil Anthony Sims, president of OSI and CEO of Kampachi Farms.
“It is also an important step in providing domestically grown seafood for US consumers. We look forward to working with NOAA to now implement this plan,” he said.
NOAA is in the final stages of reviewing/clearing the rule and expects to roll it out in the near future.
“There is increasing recognition of the value of aquaculture, which has a lower overall ecological footprint on energy use, fresh water, land use and greenhouse gas emissions, compared to other traditional forms of animal production, and open ocean aquaculture further offshore can further minimise potential fish culture impacts,” said Sims.
