Aquaculture America 2020

February 9 - 12, 2020

Honolulu, Hawaii

TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS OF PERMITTING OPEN OCEAN FARMS IN U.S. FEDERAL WATERS: EXPERIENCES WITH STAKEHOLDER ACTIONS AND REACTIONS

Donald B. Kent*
 
Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute
2595 Ingraham Street
San Diego, CA 92109
dkent@hswri.org
 

Even though it is readily accepted that the U.S. needs to significantly increase  domestic aquaculture production to meet the growing demand for seafood, there is an apparent lack of ac tion in response to  this reality largely due to three primary factors: 1) a resistance by commercial fishermen to allowing competition, 2) the persistence of erroneous information promulgated to deter the public from allowing ocean farming and 3) a regulatory permitting process that is  restrained by a public review that allows controversy to trump research. To resolve all of these limitations requires intensive stakeholder outreach to ensure that the correct information is properly evaluated over the clamor caused by a very vocal minority of detractors.

For more the 20 years, the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute  (HSWRI)  has worked with regulatory agencies, investors, researchers and the public in an attempt to permit a finfish farm in U.S. federal waters. Outreach to stakeholder groups has been paramount in the approach, and many special interest groups have offered their support while others remain steadfastly opposed.  As  a research organization, HSWRI approaches the public's concern by providing the best scientific studies available to place into perspective the risks and benefits of marine farming.  However,  public opposition and the lack of  a succinct  regulatory pathway has led to a history of application attempts being unsuccessful thereby curbing interest by investors to undertake the permit application process, resulting in missed opportunities for the domestic expansion of sustainable seafood development.

The only way to overcome public reticence to marine farming is through education and outreach.  Accordingly, over the years the Institute has worked to educate environmental groups, commercial fishers, the business community, state and local government agencies, the business community, seafood processors and distributors and resource regulatory agencies about the opportunities, risks and mitigation measures surrounding the development of marine farming. It is our hope that  using  HSWRI's efforts to develop th e  nation's first marine finfish farm in f ederal waters  as a case study will  lead to  the  further development  of  sustainable marine farm ing  in U.S. coastal and federal waters.