For Immediate Release:
Contact: Michael Pauker, , 646-335-0330
Massive Salmon Breach Underscores Dangers of Ocean Aquaculture
Recirculating Farms Coalition Calls on NOAA and NMFS to End Support for Such Facilities
New Orleans, LA (August 28, 2017) – Last week, an estimated 4,000 to 5,000 Atlantic Salmon escaped the Cooke Aquaculture fish farm in waters off Washington state. Farmed fish often escape from open water pens, disrupting wild ecosystems. Marianne Cufone, executive director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition (RFC), issued the following statement in reaction to the news:
“We’re continually frustrated by accidents like these where fish escape into the wild from open water pens. We’ve seen repeatedly, worldwide, how these operations are vulnerable to escapes and can cause other troubling ecological impacts. Another recent example happened this past March when a rare endangered Monk Seal was trapped and killed by an open water aquaculture facility. Moreover, these farms can be breeding grounds for parasites, and can pollute natural waters and other marine wildlife with pesticides and antibiotics. These can end up on our plates when consumers eat fish.
“Despite all these problems, government agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Marine Fisheries Service continue to push for development of open ocean aquaculture. Fortunately, widespread public opposition has kept these farms from expansion into U.S. federal waters thus far.
“Cooke Aquaculture’s claim that the solar eclipse caused the escapes only underscores how such facilities are too vulnerable and unstable to be a realistic option for increased seafood production in the U.S.
“Rather than backing open ocean aquaculture, we encourage the government to step up its support for land-based recirculating aquaculture, which is more sustainable and has far less likelihood of escapes and other ecological damage. Using these farms, we can grow fresh produce and fish more efficiently, without negative impacts to the environment.”
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About Recirculating Farms:
A recirculating farm uses nutrient rich, clean recycled water, as a basis to grow food. These farms can grow vegetables, flowers, fruits, herbs and other plants (hydroponics), fish (aquaculture), or both plants and fish together (aquaponics). These are mostly closed-loop, land-based farms that can run without antibiotics, other drugs or synthetic chemicals and can use renewable energy. These farms do not need to be connected to natural waters for sourcing or drainage, and can therefore grow a wide range of products without the threat of releasing them into the wild, or creating competition with fishermen who make their living selling popular local fish.
About RFC:
The Recirculating Farms Coalition is a collaborative group of farmers, educators, non-profit organizations and many others committed to building local sources of healthy, accessible food. Through research, training and advocacy, we work to support the development of eco-efficient farms that recycle water and waste, as the basis to grow food. To learn more about recirculating farms, visit: www.recirculatingfarms.org and www.betterfishfarming.org.