The MARA Act (S. 2586) is a bill that would open the floodgates for factory fish farms in U.S. federal waters. It dresses up these farms as “research,” but in reality it would allow corporations to secure 10-year leases to plant massive fish farming operations all over our offshore waters. The bill sets up a one-stop shop to speed permit approvals and even spends millions in taxpayer dollars on a PR campaign to try and clean up aquaculture’s dirty reputation.
What is factory fish farming and why is it a problem?
Also called “industrial aquaculture,” factory fish farming packs vast numbers of carnivorous finfish into giant cages or pens in the open ocean. These facilities are dirty, floating feedlots that:
- Spread parasites and disease that threaten the health of wild fish
- Leak untreated waste, excess feed, and antibiotics directly into shared waters
- Cause mass escapes that undermine wild fisheries and food security
- Hand control of our seafood supply to corporations at the expense of fishing communities
… And factory fish farms burn through dizzying amounts of wild fish to produce smaller amounts of farmed fish. Our coastal fishing communities, family-based aqua-farmers, ocean ecosystems, and seafood consumers deserve better.
Add your name to tell your senators: Reject the MARA Act. Factory fish farms have no place in U.S. waters.
Image: LTapsaH via Pixabay