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Opinions on Aquaculture Farms

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hinmo
Navigator

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USA
248 Posts

Initially Posted - 10/13/2010 : 08:18:00

Hi Folks - I am currently a member on our Town's newly formed Aquaculture committee. We are trying to develop opinions and possibly by-laws to license aquaculture farms.

My first assignment is to query peoples opinions on the effects of aquaculture farms in regards to boating, abutting landownership and other activities that may be effected by these farms. My own opinion, is that if they are not in navigational waters, I do not mind them. Locally, there is a 100+ acre farm that I must circumnavigate (fun in the dark!) to get to a well traveled destination. This type of farm, I find exclusionary and I do not like. I also think that it carves out a piece of "public" water and gives it to a sole individual to profit from. (Per state regs, the max we can charge is $25/acre per year)

I realize most the benefits and good points. I am looking opposing viewpoints. Thanks folks
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"Kukla" '83 FK,SR

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britinusa
Web Editor

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USA
5404 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2010 : 08:42:05

I met a South African guy locally a few months ago that was very experienced in establishing Fish Farms in Israel. I could help you get in contact if you like. I recall his big thing was the positive impact it had upon local employment.

Paul

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jerlim
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1484 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2010 : 08:48:53

As you said, navigating around a patch of floats and markers is at best annoying - and at worst can be dangerous should you get fouled.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2010 : 14:49:38

Would there also be nets involved? Would require updating nav charts, etc.

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hinmo
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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2010 : 15:54:41

It would be buoyed off. Certain types (oysters) float just below the surface and cannot be passed over. Yes, charts would need to be updated. As for employment, I believe even the current 100 acre farm we have in town is a 1 person operation.

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pastmember
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2402 Posts

Response Posted - 10/13/2010 : 16:57:13

and the people who buy them, transport them, sell them, prepare them and serve them.

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JohnP
Master Marine Consultant

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1520 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2010 : 07:20:03

From what I've read, oyster farming cleans the water, but salmon farming pollutes the water. I like to eat both oysters and salmon sometimes, but I also like to sail and swim in clean water, so I have divided opinions about aquaculture.

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hinmo
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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2010 : 09:56:59

Its the exclusionary part I am most concerned with. I sail the south shore of Ma. (eg. Plymouth) and it is loaded with thousands of lobster pots...which make it a real pain to navigate....but at least I can traverse it. With a oyster/scallop farm, I am outright prohibited from that ocean mass. Significant difference I think.

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Voyager
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USA
5378 Posts

Response Posted - 10/14/2010 : 20:34:38

John,
As a radical progressive liberal, I do not believe in trading public resources (public land, public water or aquifers, air space, air quality, etc) for individual or corporate business benefit.

I feel that if citizens' rights are usurped by businesses (putting up fences, roads, barricades, bouys, nets, lines) where we could normally walk, ride, paddle, sail or fly (were I so inclined) this represents a reduction of my rights in favor of somebody else's rights. What will happen over time is that our individual rights will be chiseled away bit by bit until we have no rights remaining.

So, if you're asking whether I believe it is OK to establish a fish farm on the navigable water (in the case of my kayak, it would be 6" deep and 3 feet wide), then I say NO. Except for military security (like around a base) or civil security (like around a bridge), I see no reason why any person, group, business or corporation should have precedence over my right to pass across, over or under one cubic millimeter of public property.

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hinmo
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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2010 : 03:40:16

Well stated Bruce.

I guess I can live with small farms in some areas that are not navigable, and do not represent a recreation or public resource area.

And then there's the shore front homeowner who does not want a working aqua-farm right in his/her line of sight. All valid considerations I think.

All, in all, when you factor in enforcement of these farms and the fact that our town now spends thousands yearly for recovery of boats that get tangle/mangled in the nets, it is kinda a losing proposition for the township and taxpayers.

..one persons opinion

Edited by - hinmo on 10/15/2010 04:22:19

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2010 : 06:39:32

From an ecological perspective, I am not a proponent of aquaculture. I am also mostly uneducated in the matter.

Around here, fish farms are in big tanks. Kinda like shooting fish in a barrel. I have less issues with that, but still not a fan.

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hinmo
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USA
248 Posts

Response Posted - 10/15/2010 : 07:07:46

Chris - thanks, but can you be more specific in your objections?

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Stu Jackson C34
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844 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2010 : 12:47:04

If they put them in nice quiet areas, hasn't it been shown to use up safe anchorages?

Reason I ask this as a question is that this has been going on for years, so as your new-to-this-job, it's good that you asked the question, but if it was my position, I'd do some good research on "prior experiences" in addition to asking our opinions here.

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Prospector
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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 10/17/2010 : 17:44:23

I prefer to keep my mouth shut when it comes to things I know very little about, my concerns are mostly with GMO's escaping and contaminating wild stock. Apparently a new cultured salmon has been developed which outgrows natural stock at an alarming rate. Patents are just being obtained for the fish.

I would be very concernerd with what would happen to the wild salmon stock if it was contaminated with these fish.

One of my other, other hobbies is raising heritage poultry. We own birds of 2 species of threatened chickens. The reason we are working to revive these birds is because the ones raised commercially are not a sustainable species. Like these GMO'ed salmon, they grow faster than their bodies can support them. If they are allowed to mature beyond their prime, the chickens will die because either they will be too heavy for their own legs to hold them (the legs will break under their body weight) or their hearts will not be able to keep their bodies alive.

In teh commercial environment where hatches and harvests are planned, that is OK. But were the same thing to happen with farmed salmon escaping and crossing with wild salmon, the new fish might not be able to eat enough to support the growth rate their bodies are programmed to, or they may outcompete other fish, or they may grow o the size they are intended to be, and beyond, and have dieoffs when their organs shut down.

It is the crossing of engineered species with wild stock that scares me about these things.

Again, I only speak from hearsay and limited experience trying to save other species that are being lost to the commercial model. I don't know about the net effect of lost jobs. The job chain attached to these operations would have to replace the jobs lost by commercial fishermen, their suppliers, and the marinas etc. that support them. Which one has a greater impact? I don't know.

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