In regard to your April 25 article, "Addressing aquaculture to protect coastal communities," we wanted to reach out and respectfully offer points to a few key facts.

First, the companies who support SATS and the AQUAA Act are all American, not foreign operations, proposing American offshore aquaculture in federal waters. 

Second, the claims of pollution and escapes are simply untrue in 2024.

Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS) will like to offer the following counterpoints:

Fish farmers have a vested interest in maintaining ideal water quality. Fish grown in clean water yields a better-tasting, healthier product. The claims that aquaculture will poison our waters with chemicals, diseases, excrement, and escapees are untrue and scientifically outdated. Here's why:

WATER QUALITY: Today’s farms use modern tools and technology to ensure good water quality. Siting tools, deposition models, high digestibility feeds, optimal pen configurations, farm orientation, and improved feeding through in-pen cameras and sensors all help to ensure minimal impacts on our ocean ecosystem from aquaculture. In addition, most commercial net pen farms have eliminated the use of antifoulants on nets and are using mechanical robotic net cleaners. Siting farms in well-flushed areas with adequate current and depth reduces water quality impacts. Deposition models can predict water bottom impacts based on conditions around a farm site. This allows farms to be planned and operated to avoid excessive nutrient loading and biodiversity impacts.

FEED: Better feed formulation and feeding efficiency have resulted in decreased nutrient loading at fish farms. Technologies that reduce feed waste result in fewer nutrients entering the environment and fewer total impacts. Using feed cameras, biomass estimation systems, pellet detection, or AI algorithms that predict when fish stop eating reduces environmental loading, increases efficiency, and reduces waste. Likewise, higher-quality feeds are more digestible, and as a result, fewer nutrients enter the water.

DISEASE CONTROL: Best management practices to prevent and control disease include limiting density, administering vaccines and probiotics, providing proper nutrition, and judicious use of antibiotics. 

ESCAPES: The design of net pen systems and anti-predator nets, shore-based rearing for part of the grow-out period, and improved fish handling practices during stocking, rearing, and harvesting have significantly reduced the number of escapes. Risks can be mitigated for any escaped fish by using measures, including local broodstock or sterilization of farmed fish.

Advances in cage design and technology, including stronger net material, improved mooring components, and additions of anti-predator nets have dramatically reduced escapes. Heavily anchored cages can maintain their full volume and shape regardless of the current or hurricane-force winds and the fish remain inside. 

Thank you for listening,

Drue Banta Winters, Campaign Manager for Stronger America Through Seafood (SATS).

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