NOAA Plans to Open Federal Waters in the Pacific to Fish Farming
As commercial fishing deals with its own set of problems, U.S. officials are working on a plan to expand fish farming into federal waters around the Pacific Ocean. The program is similar to a recently implemented plan in the Gulf of Mexico. Most fish farms in the U.S. are smaller operations in state waters and close to shore. NOAA hopes that having U.S. companies pursuing these opportunities will make efforts more sustainable and environmentally sound than other practices around the world.
Photo Credit: Paul B. Hillman, NOAA Fisheries