Report highlights threats of industrial ocean fish farming
WASHINGTON, D.C. – An in-depth report exposing the many public health and environmental risks from industrial ocean fish farming was published today by Johns Hopkins University. The report concludes that the industry carries significant risks for aquatic ecosystems and public health, and is in need of serious regulatory overhaul in the United States.
Researchers compiled the report to assess whether expanding industrial ocean fish farming in the US would be environmentally sound and safe based on current industry practices. The answer is a resounding no.
Hallie Templeton, senior oceans campaigner at Friends of the Earth, issued the following response:
This report makes clear that industrial ocean fish farming is unsustainable and has significant environmental and public health risks ranging from pollution due to excess nutrients and fish spills to elevated occupational hazards and injuries to fish farm workers.
The recent spill of more than 160,000 Atlantic salmon into the waters of Puget Sound demonstrates how harmful these operations can be for the environment and reiterates that corporate control of seafood production is not the answer.
The report was prepared by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future in the Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Department of Environmental Health and Engineering.
Expert Contact: Hallie Templeton, (434) 326-4647, [email protected]
Communications Contact: Erin Jensen, (202) 222-0722, [email protected]