Press Release, No. 06-18: June 12, 2006

Contacts: Tim Barry, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, ADF&G, at (907) 465-6137

ADF&G Official Testifies in Congress, Says Offshore Aquaculture is a Threat

(Juneau) – David Bedford, Deputy Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Fish and Game (ADF&G), testified today before a U.S. Senate Subcommittee to express the State of Alaska’s concerns regarding the potential growth of offshore aquaculture. 

Bedford testified before the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee’s National Ocean Policy Study Subcommittee at the request of U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK), who serves as Commerce Committee Chairman. 

“Under the leadership of Governor Frank Murkowski, the State of Alaska has undertaken a concerted effort to establish ‘Wild Alaska Salmon’ as a successful brand,” said Bedford.  “That effort is yielding impressive results, and we are very concerned that the introduction of floating fish farms could quickly, easily, and significantly reverse the many successes that our management and marketing efforts have already achieved.”

According to Bedford, Alaska has good reason to be wary of the introduction of more farmed fish in the North Pacific Ocean.  A significant number of farmed Atlantic salmon have escaped and made their way into Alaska’s fresh and marine waters.  In Alaska, these fish are considered an invasive species because they compete with Alaska’s wild salmon stocks and threaten them with disease. 

In his testimony, Bedford reiterated concerns and recommendations previously outlined by the Murkowski Administration.  Specifically, Bedford said that any offshore aquaculture legislation should:

1. allow states to determine what types of aquaculture activities, if any, occur in the waters off their coastlines;
2. include an initial five-year moratorium on new aquaculture operations to ensure that adequate scientific and socio-economic analyses are conducted;
3. give Regional Fishery Management Councils jurisdiction over aquaculture operations; and
4. prohibit the farming of certain species, particularly salmon, halibut, and black cod.

The hearing, titled  “Offshore Aquaculture: Challenges of Fish Farming in Federal Waters,” was held as Congress considers legislation to permit fish farming in the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone, a band of federal waters that begins three miles offshore and extends out to 200 miles.

###