Ensure Nominee Protects Oceans, Wildlife and Communities
President Obama has just appointed New Hampshire Republican Senator Judd Gregg as Secretary of Commerce. The Secretary of Commerce position controls decision-making for U.S. ocean wildlife - for example, endangered marine species and commercial and recreational fishing.
Senator Gregg has been a strong supporter of offshore aquaculture - the mass production of fish in huge floating cages in ocean waters. He consistently expresses support for an experimental facility in New Hampshire and pushes for federal funding for ocean fish farming projects.
Urge President Obama to ensure Gregg does not push to allow ocean fish farming in U.S. waters in his new role at the Department of Commerce! Doing so could threaten fishing and recreational activities, the marine environment and coastal communities.
President Obama,
I urge you to ensure that Senator Judd Gregg, your nominee for Secretary of Commerce, does not push to allow ocean fish farming in U.S. waters in his new role at the Department of Commerce. Senator Gregg has long been a proponent of ocean aquaculture - a form of fish farming that involves the mass production of fish in cages floating in open ocean waters. Ocean aquaculture can pose threats to marine ecosystems and seriously jeopardize the health and economies of coastal communities nationwide.
The Bush administration feverishly pushed numerous plans to allow ocean aquaculture in U.S. waters for years - but overwhelming public opposition held back their finalization. Senator Gregg consistently expresses his support for an experimental open ocean aquaculture facility in New Hampshire and pushes for federal funding for ocean fish farming projects. His record in this matter concerns me.
[Your comment here]
I urge you to inform Senator Gregg, if he is confirmed, that your position on offshore aquaculture is a change from the Bush administration - that you put protection of the marine environment and all the people that enjoy and rely on it ahead of developing a new industry associated with so many problems.
