The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has
approved large-scale fish farming off federally controlled waters.
Announced this week, the ruling allows companies to farm
fish three miles offshore in federal waters. It also permits companies to raise
pelagic fish species in large nets miles offshore. This includes amberjack and
tuna.
Although the government is hopeful that these sanctions will
have positive environmental impacts, conservationists are less optimistic.
According to Undercurrent
News, concerns include compromised water quality and possible toxic
algal blooms. Especially worrisome is the potential for farmed fish to escape
and introduce diseases into the wild fish population.
“It’s essentially offshore industrial-scale factory farming,
and it will have some of the same kinds of environmental problems those
facilities create too, asserts Kristen Monsell, staff attorney at the Center
for Biological Diversity.
Fish feel pain just like other animals. These floating
factory farms subject millions of fish to brutal slaughter after a lifetime of
suffering crammed into waste-filled pools.
With so many plant-based protein options available, there’s
never been a better time to leave fish and other aquatic animals off your plate
for good.
Click here for
a list of delicious vegan seafood recipes.