NOAA seeks input on Gulf of Mexico aquaculture sites, including 3 off Florida

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·5 min read
This graphic shows an analysis of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas identified in the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico. The three areas outlined in blue – off of Pinellas, Sarasota and Collier counties – offer the greatest potential for success of aquaculture projects. NOAA FIsheries opened a public comment period for a “programmatic environmental impact statement,” on June 1. Three virtual meetings are scheduled in June and July, while written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

Correction: Ocean Era wants to raise 20,000 Alamco jack in its offshore net pen demonstration project. An earlier version of this story listed pounds instead of number of fish.

When a Hawaii-based aquaculture business proposed a demonstration fish farm project in federal waters off of Sarasota County in 2019, residents along the Gulf Coast voiced concerns about potential environmental impacts — including its potential to exacerbate red tide blooms.

Now, the federal government is considering allowing commercial aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico — including areas offshore of Collier, Sarasota and Pinellas counties — and is seeking public input as it crafts an assessment of impacts from the sites.

The first of three virtual public meetings on the proposal is scheduled for June 8. Written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

Aquaculture Opportunity Area E-3, a 2,000-acre site in federal waters off of Sarasota County, is one of three potential sites identified in the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico as a site for aquaculture projects. NOAA FIsheries opened a public comment period for a “programmatic environmental impact statement,” on June 1. Three virtual meetings are scheduled in June and July, while written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

Earlier: Opposition mounts against proposed fish farm in federal waters off of Sarasota County

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has identified a total of 10 "aquaculture opportunity areas" off of California in the Pacific Ocean and nine areas in the Gulf of Mexico, off of Texas, Louisiana and Florida.

Those nine sites were chosen after an examination of 29,839 possible locations.

The effort comes as the result of a 545-page Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico was published in November 2021.

Aquaculture projects can include shellfish, finfish, seaweed and integrated projects involving all three.

Here’s what you need to know about the proposed opportunity areas in the Gulf of Mexico and the comment process.

Where are the Opportunity Areas?

Aquaculture Opportunity Area E-1, a 500-acre site in federal waters off of Collier County, is one of three potential sites identified in the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico as a site for aquaculture projects. Though it is the smallest of three Florida sites it was the top ranked of those considered. NOAA FIsheries opened a public comment period for a “programmatic environmental impact statement,” on June 1. Three virtual meetings are scheduled in June and July, while written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

Area E-1 is a 500-acre site listed as being 56 to 58 nautical miles from the inlets off of Fort Myers, but in terms of latitude, it is closer to Naples.

Area  E-3 is a 2,000-acre site about 49 nautical miles from the inlet off Tampa, but in terms of latitude, it’s off of Sarasota near Siesta Key.

Area E-4 is a 2,000-acre site about 50 nautical miles off of the inlet in Clearwater.

Aquaculture Opportunity Area E-4, a 2,000-acre site in federal waters off of Pinellas County, is one of three potential sites identified in the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico as a site for aquaculture projects. NOAA FIsheries opened a public comment period for a “programmatic environmental impact statement,” on June 1. Three virtual meetings are scheduled in June and July, while written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

There was an E-2 area, but NOAA spokeswoman Allison Garrett said in an email it scored too low for consideration.

Aquaculture endeavors would not occupy an entire area. In fact, anywhere from three to five aquaculture businesses may occur in any one area. Other uses would be allowed. Single-site aquaculture projects may also still be viable outside of the three opportunity areas, Garrett noted.

NOAA Fisheries prepared list of Frequently Asked Questions can be found at https://bit.ly/3NRTMyq.

How were the areas picked and why?

Andrew Richard, Regional Aquaculture Coordinator for the National Marine Fisheries Services in St. Petersburg, noted that the sites were identified through an analysis spearheaded by the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, which published the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas.

Richard said the current effort is a planning process.

“There’s no specific projects that are being identified or preference given to one or the other,” Richard said. “It’s identifying areas that may be suitable for aquaculture development.”

NOAA was charged to preserve ocean sustainability and enable domestic aquaculture through the National Aquaculture Act of 1980.

The current planning effort is in response to a May 7, 2020 executive order from the White House “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.”

What happened to the Ocean Era project off of Sarasota County?

Ocean Era, which wants to raise about 20,000 Alamco jack, in a net pen about 45 miles southwest of Sarasota, is awaiting a permit from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for its waste disposal.

Those 20,000 pounds of Alamco  jack would produce about 80,000 pounds of waste. Because the farmed fish may be treated with antibiotics and other chemicals, a discharge permit is needed.

On May 6, the EPA’s Environmental Review Appeals Board remanded approvals issued by EPA Region 4 back for clarification  because the permit approvals said in one section that “permitted discharges will not cause unreasonable degradation” – which is required for a permit to be issued – and in another section that unreasonable degradation is “not likely” to occur.

Dennis Peters, executive director of Gulfstream Aquaculture, which is partnering with Neil Anthony Sims, CEO of Ocean Era Inc., said recently that he is hopeful that the permit issue can be resolved within 45 days and a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct the net pen and its support system would follow.

Peters said that once permits are received Ocean Era would need “at a minimum four to six months to complete our planning and start our deployment.”

Meanwhile New York-based Manna Fish Farms is conducting environmental surveys and seeking approval of an operational aquaculture project that produce red drum, striped bass and other species at an 105-acre site south of Pensacola. Manna lists its proposed site as 23 miles south of Pensacola, while the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas lists the site as 16 miles south of Pensacola.

When and where to provide comments?

The 60-day public comment period that will be used by NOAA for a “programmatic environmental impact statement” opened June 1 and closes Aug. 1.

Nine Aquaculture Opportunity Areas were identified in federal waters in the Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the Gulf of Mexico, which was published Nov. 1, 2021. NOAA FIsheries opened a public comment period for a “programmatic environmental impact statement,” on June 1. Three virtual meetings are scheduled in June and July, while written comments will be accepted through Aug. 1.

There are three virtual meetings where verbal comments can be made.

The first is from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., June 8. To access that webinar, go to https://bit.ly/3x1LBsJ or to listen and provide comment, dial l-800-857-5095 and use participant passcode 9612327.

The second is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., June 16. For that webinar go to https://bit.ly/3x72uSK or to listen and provide comments, dial 1-800-857-5095 and use passcode 9612327.

The third is 7:30 to 9:30 p.m., July 12., Go to https://bit.ly/3PWqL6E for the webinar or to listen and provide comments, dial 1-800-857-5095 and use passcode 9612327.

Electronic comments can be submitted at https://www.regulations.gov/ by searching for NOAA-NMFS-2022-0044. Enter NA in the required field if you want to remain anonymous.

Comments can also be mailed to Andrew Richard, Regional Aquaculture Coordinator, NMFS, Southwest Regional office, 263 13th Ave., South, St. Petersburg, FL, 33701. Include “GULF AOA PEIS on the envelope.

Comments can include the type of aquaculture for a site, potential adverse, beneficial or cumulative impacts of the aquaculture programs, monitoring and reporting requirements.

For a list of more suggested areas for comment and more information on how to comment, visit: https://bit.ly/3wWP9MQ.

Earle Kimel primarily covers south Sarasota County for the Herald-Tribune and can be reached at earle.kimel@heraldtribune.com. Support local journalism with a digital subscription to the Herald-Tribune.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: NOAA seeks comment on 9 aquaculture sites, including 3 offshore Florida