Webinar July 25: The Fish Farm Threat to the Gulf

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 5, 2022
Contact: Christian Wagley   850.687.9968    christian@healthygulf.org

****MEDIA ADVISORY****

Offshore fish farms threaten Gulf of Mexico

• What: The coming threat: Offshore fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico
• When: Monday July 25  6:30 pm CDT/7:30 pm EDT
• Where: online through zoom—register on the Healthy Gulf web page here: https://healthygulf.org/event/offshore-fish-farms-threaten-gulf-of-mexico/

The Federal government is proposing multiple offshore fish farms in the Gulf of Mexico, threatening the health of Gulf waters and stocks of wild fish. Join us as we learn about these proposed farms, their specific locations off Florida, Louisiana and Texas, and work being done to keep them from harming Gulf waters and marine life.

Our guests include James Mitchell, legislative director, Don’t Cage Our Oceans; Christian Wagley, coastal organizer, Healthy Gulf; Neal Schleifer, Siesta Key, FL and Andrianna Natsoulas, campaign director, Don’t Cage Our Oceans. Don’t Cage Our Oceans is a coalition of 14 nonprofit organizations working to stop offshore fish farming while uplifting values-based sea-food systems led by local communities.

More information on this event is available on the Healthy Gulf website and Facebook page.

Healthy Gulf is a nonprofit organization that works to protect and restore the Gulf of Mexico and the people and communities along its shores. For more information or questions please contact Florida – Alabama Coastal Organizer Christian Wagley: christian@healthygulf.org or (850) 687-9968.

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See Glenn Compton for more:

The value of Florida’s biologically sensitive areas and endangered and threatened species should not be put at risk by floating fish farms.

Fish farms: More info

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Venice City Council drafts letter on Fish Farm

Update:  Venice City Council approves letter urging more study of Ocean Era aquaculture permit 

VENICE – The Venice City Council approved drafting a letter asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era aquaculture demonstration project Tuesday, but not before listening to Ocean Era project manager Dennis Peters clarify details about the project. ...

The board specifically did not oppose the aquaculture project. Vice Mayor Rich Cautero noted that the issue had become a political football. [Full story]

Text of Venice Council's letter

A story published in Sarasota Magazine reveals the scale of Ocean Era's ambition:

If the results are positive, you can expect to see another farm with as many as 2 million fish in the Gulf. According to [Neil Sims, Ocean Era’s chief executive officer] that size is an industry standard. “There are certain economies of scale,” he says. “Two thousand tons a year is the minimum for any aquaculture operation.”

Other companies may also join Ocean Era. “By blazing this trail through the permitting process, we want to build an industry,” says Sims. “We don’t want to just be one farm out there.”

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May 22, 2021 HT:

The Venice City Council has voted to support a letter authorized by its Environmental Advisory Board urging the EPA to rescind its permit for the Ocean Era fish farm off the coast of Sarasota. 

Venice would join the cities of Sarasota, Anna Maria, Sanibel and Holmes Beach. Apparently the public can observe but not participate -- except to send advance email and mail comments:

Photo from Herald Tribune

Fish Farm Deadline for comments extended

The Army Corps of Engineers has extended the deadline for people who wish to comment on the proposed fish farm off of Sarasota's shores. Apparently their email was not working, and comments previously submitted were not received. 

Here is the address to the now working email: 

 OceanEra_VEAquaculture@usace.army.mil 

From the Corps:

The Corps is extending the comment period an additional 15-days to November 19, 2020 to ensure we receive all comments regarding this proposed project. If you previously sent comments to the OceanEra_VEAquaculture@usace.army.mil email address, please resend those comments as soon as possible. You will receive an email response confirming receipt of your comments. We apologize for this inconvenience.

Deadline Extension for comments:

Project Name: 15-Day Public Notice Comment Period Extension for Ocean Era, LLC Velella Epsilon Aquaculture Pilot Project

County: Sarasota County

Comment Due Date: November 19, 2020

File Name: SAJ-2017-03488 (SP-KRD)

Due to a technical issue, the Corps became aware that the comment email mailbox, OceanEra_VEAquaculture@usace.army.mil , was not receiving external emails. 

Calling all fish harvesters, restaurants, tourism/entertainment industries, retailers and more!

If you are a business owner/operator in the Gulf of Mexico, we hope you will consider signing onto this letter from coastal businesses to public officials demanding that they prioritize Gulf businesses, support your recovery from coronavirus devastation, and call on the government to halt the development of new industrial aquaculture facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. You can sign on and read the full letter here. Deadline is Thursday, November 2. 

The looming threat of industrial ocean fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico is growing. EPA just issued the first permit needed to construct Velella Epsilon, a finfish aquaculture facility just 45 miles off the coast of Sarasota, FL. The US Army Corps of Engineers is about to close a commenting period on the second and final permit necessary to build the first of what will likely be many of these destructive operations throughout the Gulf of Mexico.

Industrial aquaculture facilities push external costs of operation onto the ocean ecosystem and coastal economies, from direct discharge of toxins to privatization of the ocean. 

For the Gulf of Mexico, this means extra nutrients to feed the red tide and increased competition for limited marine space (and much more). The industry has its sights set on the Gulf of Mexico as the first place it wants to operate in the U.S. – starting with the Velella Epsilon project off the coast of Sarasota, to be followed by a larger “Aquaculture Opportunity Area” to host up to 5 facilities in the region. This could devastate Gulf businesses that have already been struggling to recover from recent natural disasters and devastation from the impacts of COVID-19.

Join us in telling public officials to support local and coastal businesses in the Gulf, and stop pushing a harmful new industry in the region! Sign on and read the full letter here. Deadline is Monday, November 2.

Please feel free to spread the word and contact htempleton@foe.org with any questions.

<><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><> 

Hallie Templeton

Senior Oceans Campaigner

(434)326-4647

htempleton@foe.org

Friends of the Earth

    

UPDATE: MORE time to take a stand against fish farming

The comment period has been extended to Nov. 4!!

The Virtual Hearing was successful in getting the Army Corps (USACE) to open a Comment Period on the construction permit for the Velella Epsilon Fish Farm off Sarasota’s coast.

Please send comments to the Army Corps expressing your objections to the permit and requesting a public hearing at the email below by Nov. 4. Comments “must state the specific reasons for requesting the public hearing”:

COMMENTS regarding the potential authorization of the work proposed should be submitted in writing to the attention of the District Engineer through the Tampa Permits Section, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida 33610-8302 or preferably by electronic mail at: OceanEra_VEAquaculture@usace.army.mil within 30 days from the date of this notice (i.e. November 4, 2020).

 

The decision whether to issue or deny this permit application will be based on the information received from this public notice and the evaluation of the probable impact general navigation pursuant to Section 10 of the RHA.

 

QUESTIONS concerning this application should be directed to the project manager, Katy Damico, in writing at the Tampa Permits Section, 10117 Princess Palm Avenue, Suite 120, Tampa, Florida 33610-8302 or preferably by electronic mail at : OceanEra_VEAquaculture@usace.army.mil or, by telephone at (813) 769-7076 or (813) 467-6603.

      Submit your comments now thru November 4

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There's still time to speak out!

There are a few more days for the public to add thoughts and voices to the overwhelming opposition to offshore fish farming near Sarasota's beaches. (Sample testimony)

Submit your comments now - open through Oct. 14.

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LTE of 9.21.20 in the Herald Tribune

The federal government recently moved to speed the development of industrial fish farming in the Gulf of Mexico by designating an “aquaculture opportunity area.”

But what “opportunity” is it really creating?

Offshore aquaculture consists of floating pens filled with tens of thousands of fish – and waste, excess feed and various chemicals freely polluting the surrounding environment. 

When those facilities are damaged during extreme weather, they can rupture, allowing the fish to escape and disrupt our local ecosystems.

If this isn’t enough, the Army Corps of Engineers is poised to issue a permit for a new fish farming facility in federal waters off Sarasota called Velella Epsilon, without making the application public. This comes in spite of strong opposition from Sarasota, Holmes Beach and Sanibel.

The facility may increase red tide, and pollute beaches and waters that are the backbone of our local economy.

On Sept. 30, a coalition of residents, government officials, business owners and environmentalists will participate in a virtual people’s hearing to give the public a voice in the permitting process, and make our opposition loud and clear.

Register to speak here

Submit audio, video and written statements

 

Dr. Neal Schleifer, Sarasota

RSVP now for Wednesday's Virtual People's Hearing

Media Advisory for: Wednesday, September 30

Contact: Kara Watkins-Chow, kara.watkinschow@berlinrosen.com

Sarasota Residents Gather to Voice Concerns

on Construction of Industrial Fish Farm 

On Wednesday Sept. 30, Sarasota residents will gather for a virtual hearing to share their concerns about a proposed permit for the first industrial aquaculture facility in the Gulf of Mexico.

If permitted, the facility would grow thousands of fish in net pens in federal waters off the coast of Sarasota, releasing waste, pesticides and other pollutants directly into local ecosystems. 

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is currently poised to issue this permit without the opportunity for public input, so the organizers of the virtual hearing will record and deliver residents’ comments to public officials. This hearing follows several recent efforts from the White House and federal government to speed development in the Gulf of Mexico.

WHAT: Virtual People’s Hearing on Industrial Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico

WHO: Attendees will include Sarasota residents, fishermen, coastal business owners and environmental advocates. Hearing hosted by the Don’t Cage Our Ocean Coalition.

WHERE: Virtually on Zoom, with RSVP required here

WHEN: Wednesday, September 30 | 10:30am-12pm ET with an additional opportunity for drop-in testimony from 6:30pm-7:30pm ET

# # #

 

Fish Farm Public Hearing of, by, and for the People

Despite overwhelming public opposition to the Vellela Epsilon offshore Fish Farm at the January 2020 EPA hearing, the Army Corps of Engineers is set to issue a permit for a Fish Farm off Sarasota's shores without holding a hearing.

The farm, the first in a proposed Gulf aquaculture opportunity area, poses grave danger to marine life, the ecosystem, tourism and the economy. Fish waste, pollution and feed may increase red tide blooms. 

A coalition of concerned citizens will hold its own hearing on September 30 - and the input will be sent to the Army Corps.

ACTION ITEMS:

1. Please join the Virtual Hearing to express your views: Eventbrite link to virtual hearing on Offshore Fish Farm September 30.

2. Click to submit audio, video, or text comments

3. On September 30, use this link for the Live Link on Facebook (you don't need to belong to Facebook to participate).

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Bonus: 

Here is a sign-on business letter for local businesses. If you can, please sign the letter here. 

 

Calling all fish harvesters, restaurants, tourism/entertainment industries, retailers, and more!

If you are a business owner/operator in the Gulf of Mexico, we hope you will consider signing onto this letter on behalf of coastal businesses to public officials demanding that they prioritize Gulf businesses, support your recovery from Coronavirus devastation, and call on the government to halt the development of new industrial aquaculture facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. You can sign on and read the full letter here. Deadline is Friday, Oct 2.

Industrial aquaculture facilities push external costs of operation onto the ocean ecosystem and coastal economies, from direct discharge of toxins to privatization of the ocean. For the Gulf of Mexico, this means extra nutrients to feed the red tide and increased competition for limited marine space (and much more). The industry has its sights set on the Gulf of Mexico as the first place it wants to operate in the U.S. – starting with a project off the coast of Sarasota, to be followed by a larger “Aquaculture Opportunity Area” to host up to 5 facilities in the region. This could devastate Gulf businesses that have already been struggling to recover from recent natural disasters and devastation from the impacts of COVID-19. 

Join us in telling public officials to support local and coastal businesses in the Gulf, and stop pushing a harmful new industry in the region! Deadline is Friday, Oct 2.

Environment and Energy: Bloom, Sellers at CONA 1.10.20

Justin Bloom of Suncoast Waterkeeper spoke about the fish farming operation proposed for offshore of Sarasota - an EPA hearing is set for Jan. 28th at the Mote Wave Center, 5:30 pm. More on this here.

And Sean Sellers of the Suncoast Climate Justice Coalition spoke about what can be done to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030, and who is getting behind this effort. Sarasota is one of 10 cities in Florida to have committed to government 100% renewable by 2030.


Click here or on the video below for the entire meeting:

This link will take you to Sean Sellers' full power point presentation on the perils facing a world that isn't quick enough on the uptake for renewable energy.

Environmental Coalition issues joint comment on commercial fish operation proposed off of Sarasota

A company seeks to build and operate a fish farm in waters off of Sarasota County. A public hearing is set for Jan. 28 - more background here.

Below are excerpts from a Joint Comment issued by a coalition of environmental organizations to the EPA, expressing manifold concerns about the agency's assessment of a commercial fish farm seeking to operate off the coast of Sarasota County.

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The permit would allow Kampachi Farms, LLC to operate the only industrial ocean fish farm in U.S. federal waters – in the Gulf of Mexico approximately 40 miles from the coast of Sarasota, FL – and discharge untreated, industrial wastewater from the facility directly into the surrounding ocean.  

Industrial ocean fish farming – also known as offshore or marine finfish aquaculture – is the mass cultivation of finned fish in the ocean, in net pens, pods, and cages.  

These are essentially floating feedlots in open water, which can have devastating environmental and socio-economic impacts. 

Kampachi Fish Pod

• . . . escaped farmed fish will likely spread a multitude of parasites and diseases to wild stocks, which could prove fatal when transmitted.

• It is no secret that confining large populations of animals will breed pests and disease. In response, the agriculture and aquaculture sectors administer a pharmacopeia of chemicals – and in the open ocean, residues of these drugs are discharged and absorbed into the marine ecosystem. 

• the use of antibiotics in marine finfish aquaculture facilities is contributing to the public health crisis of antibiotic resistance. For farmed fish, antibiotics not only leave residues in your seafood, but they also leach into the ocean, contaminating nearby water and marine life. 

• Another vital concern is the direct discharge of untreated toxins, including excess food, feces, antibiotics, and antifoulants associated with industrial ocean fish farms. 

• These underwater factory farms can also physically impact the seafloor by creating dead zones

• EPA . . . must assess the myriad environmental, socioeconomic, and human health impacts from the full scope of the intended operations 

• We also urge EPA to fully consider the range of available alternatives that can increase domestic seafood production while avoiding and/or reducing environmental, public health, and socio- economic impacts. 

• In this instance, EPA has unlawfully failed to meet its ESA [Endangered Species Act] mandate.. . . EPA has not provided sufficient data to support its conclusions, and made no attempt to quantify or analyze the potential harm from several significant impacts to the Listed Species.

• In conclusion, EPA must remedy the above violations of law prior to reaching a decision on the permit. We strongly oppose issuance of the permit for industrial wastewater discharge from a marine finfish aquaculture facility in the Gulf of Mexico, and we request that EPA hold a public hearing, with the opportunity for live public testimony, prior to reaching a decision on the permit.

For the foregoing reasons, the undersigned organizations strongly oppose EPA’s issuance of the permit.

Friends of the Earth, 

Center for Food Safety, 

Center for Biological Diversity, 

Food & Water Watch, 

Healthy Gulf, 

Institute for Fisheries Resources, 

National Family Farm Coalition, 

Northwest Atlantic Marine Alliance, 

NY4WHALES, 

Ocean Conservation Research, 

Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, 

Sanctuary Education Advisory Specialists LLC, 

Sierra Club Grassroots Network 

Joint Comment in full


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 EPA public hearing details:

• Date: January 28, 2020
• Time: 5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
• Location: Wave Center
• Mote Marine Laboratory
• 1600 Ken Thompson Pkwy, Sarasota, FL 34236

Also:

Justin Bloom from Suncoast Waterkeeper will offer an update on this issue at CONA Sarasota Jan. 10. Details here.