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. 

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

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