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Fish Farm Fallout

A PLAN TO ALLOW CORPORATE FISH FARMING IN THE GULF OF MEXICO HAS BOTH FISHERMEN AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS UP IN ARMS.  LEARN WHY ON TODAY’S ENVIRONMINUTE.

BOTH FISHERMEN AND ENVIRONMENTALISTS ARE CONCERNED THAT LARGE SCALE FISH FARMS IN THE GULF WOULD GENERATE POLLUTION AND THAT HURRICANES MIGHT DAMAGE THE PENS, LETTING ESCAPED FISH CARRY EXOTIC DISEASES INTO THE WILD.

SUPPORTERS, ON THE OTHER HAND, SAY THE FARMS WILL LOWER PRESSURE ON WILD FISH POPULATIONS AND REDUCE OUR RELIANCE ON IMPORTED SEAFOOD.  BUT JOHN OGDEN OF THE FLORIDA INSTITUTE OF OCEANOGRAPHY SAYS WE MUST BE BETTER ABLE TO MEASURE THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF THESE FISH FARMS BEFORE THEY ARE BUILT.

OGDEN: WE DON’T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT OUR OCEANS YET TO EVEN KNOW WHERE A SUITABLE PLACE IS TO SITE ONE OF THESE MAJOR INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS.

HE SAYS WE MUST KNOW THE CONSEQUENCES BEFORE WE ACT, NOT AFTER THE DAMAGE HAS BEEN DONE.

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Read more from the St. Petersburg Times.

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