Marine Finfish Aquaculture:

Is Sustainable Regulation Attainable?

Tim Eichenberg

The Ocean Conservancy

AquacultureAquaculture40% of all fish 40% of all fish products worldwideproducts worldwideFastest growing sector Fastest growing sector of food economyof food economy

44--fold increase in past fold increase in past 20 years in US20 years in US55--fold increase fold increase proposed ($5B yr.)proposed ($5B yr.)

Promoted as solution:Promoted as solution:to $8B seafood trade to $8B seafood trade deficit (78% of US deficit (78% of US seafood imported)seafood imported)to overfishing (75% of to overfishing (75% of fisheries are fully/overfisheries are fully/over--exploited)exploited)

Farmed Species Farmed Species

Caribbean:Caribbean: cobia, snappercobia, snapperGulf:Gulf: red drum, red drum, pompano, amberjack, pompano, amberjack, cobia cobia Pacific:Pacific: salmon, halibut, salmon, halibut, tuna tuna New England:New England: salmon, salmon, halibut, haddock, cod halibut, haddock, cod Hawaii:Hawaii: moimoi

Farmed Species: TunaFarmed Species: Tuna

ImpactsImpacts

Escapes:Escapes:spread disease/parasitesspread disease/parasitescompete with wild stockscompete with wild stocksbiological pollutionbiological pollution

Water quality:Water quality:Wastes: (200,000 fish = Wastes: (200,000 fish = 20,00 20,00 -- 65,000 people)65,000 people)Chemicals: hormones, Chemicals: hormones, antibiotics, pesticides, antibiotics, pesticides, herbicides, pigments, herbicides, pigments, parasiticidesparasiticides, anesthetics , anesthetics

ImpactsImpacts

Use conflicts/public trustUse conflicts/public trustMarine wildlifeMarine wildlifeEcosystem effects:Ecosystem effects:

4:1 conversion ratio for 4:1 conversion ratio for some wild:farmed marine some wild:farmed marine finfishfinfishAquaculture uses 12% of Aquaculture uses 12% of the worldthe world’’s catch; 40% of s catch; 40% of worldworld’’s fishmeal s fishmeal

International Aquaculture PoliciesInternational Aquaculture Policies

Article 9 UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Article 9 UN FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries (1995). States Fisheries (1995). States ““shouldshould””::

ensure ensure ““ecological sustainability,ecological sustainability,””““preventprevent”” negative affects on fishing communitiesnegative affects on fishing communities““minimizeminimize””

adverse ecological changes through appropriate environmental adverse ecological changes through appropriate environmental assessment/monitoring assessment/monitoring harmful effects of nonharmful effects of non--native/GM speciesnative/GM speciesrisks of disease to wild stocksrisks of disease to wild stocksuse of use of therapeutantstherapeutants, hormones, drugs, antibiotics, hormones, drugs, antibiotics

““promotepromote”” appropriate feeds, additives, and fertilizersappropriate feeds, additives, and fertilizers““regulateregulate”” use of harmful chemicalsuse of harmful chemicals““requirerequire”” wastes not harm human health/environmentwastes not harm human health/environment

Major Federal Permits/ReviewsMajor Federal Permits/Reviews

Army Corps: Army Corps: RHARHANEPANEPA

EPA: EPA: CWACWAFIFRAFIFRA

FDA: FDCAFDA: FDCAUSDA: APHISUSDA: APHISNOAA: NOAA:

CZMACZMAMPRSAMPRSA

FWS: FWS: ESAESALacey ActLacey ActMBTAMBTA

NMFS: NMFS: ESAESAMSAMSAMMPAMMPA

MMS: OCSLAMMS: OCSLADHS: Coast GuardDHS: Coast Guard

Federal PoliciesFederal Policies

National Aquaculture Act of 1980/NAIA 1985: National Aquaculture Act of 1980/NAIA 1985: ““National interest to encourage developmentNational interest to encourage development”” of aquaculture industryof aquaculture industryEstablished JSA in NSTC (Commerce, Agriculture, Interior) to devEstablished JSA in NSTC (Commerce, Agriculture, Interior) to develop elop National Aqua Development PlanNational Aqua Development Plan

JSA Aqua Research and Development Strategic Plan: JSA Aqua Research and Development Strategic Plan: Improve competitiveness/efficiency; Improve competitiveness/efficiency; increase production/exports; increase production/exports; create jobs; create jobs; world leadership in science and development; world leadership in science and development; develop alternative species; improve regulatory framework; develop alternative species; improve regulatory framework; promote responsible stewardshippromote responsible stewardship

Federal PoliciesFederal Policies

Draft Code of Conduct for Responsible Draft Code of Conduct for Responsible Aquaculture Development in the EEZ (2002)Aquaculture Development in the EEZ (2002)

Voluntary Voluntary ““softsoft”” guidance calls for:guidance calls for:consolidated federal permit/leasing system; consolidated federal permit/leasing system; voluntary voluntary BMPsBMPs““precautionaryprecautionary”” siting and management principlessiting and management principleszoningzoningconserving biodiversityconserving biodiversitypreventing escapespreventing escapesminimizing genetic divergence and disease transmission minimizing genetic divergence and disease transmission

Federal PoliciesFederal Policies

EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines (2004)EPA Effluent Limitation Guidelines (2004)Applicable to CWA permits for >100,000 pounds/yearApplicable to CWA permits for >100,000 pounds/yearDoes not:: Does not::

Establish numeric standards for pollutants (TSS, FC, nitrates, Establish numeric standards for pollutants (TSS, FC, nitrates, phosphates, BOD, metals, drugs, pesticides or other chemicals)phosphates, BOD, metals, drugs, pesticides or other chemicals)Limit use of nonLimit use of non--native/GM species native/GM species Require WET testing or water quality monitoring Require WET testing or water quality monitoring

BMPsBMPs: minimize feed inputs, properly store and dispose : minimize feed inputs, properly store and dispose chemicals, inspect and maintain production systems, remove chemicals, inspect and maintain production systems, remove carcasses, and train personnel carcasses, and train personnel

Federal LegislationFederal Legislation

S 1195 (Stevens, Inouye)S 1195 (Stevens, Inouye)““EncouragesEncourages”” responsible development, and responsible development, and protection of wild stocks and marine ecosystemsprotection of wild stocks and marine ecosystemsAuthorizes DOC site/operating permits, and Authorizes DOC site/operating permits, and regsregs to to monitor and gather data monitor and gather data Exempts OOA permits from MSAExempts OOA permits from MSAContains no environmental standards/requirementsContains no environmental standards/requirements

OOA permits subject to existing laws/OOA permits subject to existing laws/regsregsAuthorizes additional environmental requirements Authorizes additional environmental requirements ““if if necessarynecessary””Preserves state role under CZMA consistencyPreserves state role under CZMA consistency

Federal LegislationFederal Legislation

Proposed Amendments to S 1195Proposed Amendments to S 1195States may States may ““optopt--outout””Permitees Permitees must be citizens, residents or U.S. must be citizens, residents or U.S. corporationscorporationsEnvironmental standards must address risks and Environmental standards must address risks and impacts on natural fish stocks, marine ecosystems, impacts on natural fish stocks, marine ecosystems, water quality, marine mammals and other featureswater quality, marine mammals and other featuresStrike Jones Act exemption Strike Jones Act exemption

State LegislationState Legislation

Alaska: Bans marine finfish aquacultureAlaska: Bans marine finfish aquacultureCalifornia: Banned salmon, and all GM, California: Banned salmon, and all GM, nonnon--native species in 2003 (SB 245)native species in 2003 (SB 245)Maine/Washington/Florida/Texas/ Maine/Washington/Florida/Texas/ Hawaii:Hawaii:

Provide various siting, operating and Provide various siting, operating and monitoring requirements for marine fish monitoring requirements for marine fish farmsfarms

California BillCalifornia BillSB 768/201 (SB 768/201 (SimitianSimitian))

Requires PEIRRequires PEIRConsider appropriate sites/designs to avoid conflicts Consider appropriate sites/designs to avoid conflicts with other useswith other usesEvaluate industry effects:Evaluate industry effects:

on fish, wildlife, and sensitive habitatson fish, wildlife, and sensitive habitatsof escapes, wastes, chemical and biological pollutants, and of escapes, wastes, chemical and biological pollutants, and food/fishmeal on marine ecosystems food/fishmeal on marine ecosystems

California BillCalifornia BillSB 768/201 (SB 768/201 (SimitianSimitian))

Requires specific leasing standards:Requires specific leasing standards:Sites must be appropriate in PEIR; not Sites must be appropriate in PEIR; not ““unreasonably unreasonably interfereinterfere”” with fishing and other public trust uses with fishing and other public trust uses ““PreventPrevent”” escapes; discharge of pollutants; adverse affects on escapes; discharge of pollutants; adverse affects on wildlife, marine habitats, fishing and other uses wildlife, marine habitats, fishing and other uses ““MinimizeMinimize”” densities; use of fish meal/oils; drugs and densities; use of fish meal/oils; drugs and chemicals chemicals ““RestoreRestore”” damage to human health and environmentdamage to human health and environmentConduct baseline assessments; regular monitoringConduct baseline assessments; regular monitoringMark/tag farmed fishMark/tag farmed fishFees to administer/monitor/inspect/enforce leasesFees to administer/monitor/inspect/enforce leasesTransparencyTransparency

Support for Support for SimitianSimitian BillBill

1.1. The Ocean Conservancy The Ocean Conservancy (sponsor)(sponsor)

2.2. BluewaterBluewater NetworkNetwork3.3. CA CA CoastkeeperCoastkeeper AllianceAlliance4.4. CA Coastal Protection NetworkCA Coastal Protection Network5.5. CA League of Conservation CA League of Conservation

VotersVoters6.6. CoastsideCoastside Fishing ClubFishing Club7.7. Center for Food SafetyCenter for Food Safety8.8. Defenders of WildlifeDefenders of Wildlife9.9. Environment California Environment California 10.10. Environmental Center of SLOEnvironmental Center of SLO11.11. Environmental DefenseEnvironmental Defense

12.12. Environmental Defense CenterEnvironmental Defense Center13.13. NRDCNRDC14.14. OceanaOceana15.15. Orange County Orange County CoastkeeperCoastkeeper16.16. Pacific Coast Federation of Pacific Coast Federation of

FishermenFishermen’’s Associationss Associations17.17. Planning & Conservation LeaguePlanning & Conservation League18.18. Santa Barbara Santa Barbara ChannelkeeperChannelkeeper19.19. San Diego San Diego BaykeeperBaykeeper20.20. San Luis Obispo San Luis Obispo CoastkeeperCoastkeeper21.21. Santa Monica Santa Monica BaykeeperBaykeeper22.22. Save Our ShoresSave Our Shores23.23. SeaflowSeaflow24.24. Sierra Club CaliforniaSierra Club California

OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE

CONCEPTUAL OFFSHORE SUSTAINABLE AQUAFARM