Don’t Cage Our Oceans is urging NOAA to stop the expansion of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in U.S. waters.

In comments submitted to NOAA, we strongly opposed the designation of new AOAs, pointing to serious legal questions about NOAA’s authority to regulate aquaculture in federal waters and overwhelming public opposition to previously proposed AOAs. More than 90% of public comments opposed AOAs in the Gulf of Mexico, while more than 68% opposed them in Southern California.

Industrial-scale offshore finfish farms also pose serious risks to ocean ecosystems and wild fisheries, including pollution, disease and parasites, chemical use, and fish escapes.

Rather than opening more of our public waters to industrial aquaculture, NOAA should focus on its responsibility to conserve and manage wild fish stocks and protect fishing communities.

Read the full comments to see what’s at stake for coastal communities →