Recirculating Farms Coalition Executive Director Marianne Cufone: To Protect Marine Life, NOAA Must End Support for Open Ocean Aquaculture

NEW ORLEANS, March 17, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, March 16, an endangered 10-year old Hawaiian monk seal died after becoming trapped in one of Blue Ocean Mariculture's net pens. Blue Ocean Mariculture is an open ocean fish farm that receives federal funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). It's the same fish farm that NOAA has been using for research to support a plan to expand aquaculture into federal waters around the United States.

Marianne Cufone, executive director of the Recirculating Farms Coalition (RFC), issued the following statement in reaction to the news of the endangered seal's death:

"We're disturbed and saddened to learn that a Hawaiian monk seal died after being caught in Blue Ocean Mariculture's net pen. This unfortunate loss is yet another example of why large-scale open ocean aquaculture is detrimental to marine life and the overall quality of our oceans.  

"We hope NOAA will reconsider its support of open ocean fish farming and stop its plans to expand finfish aquaculture in federal waters.  Instead, we urge NOAA to support more sustainable and scalable fish farming."

About RFC:
The Recirculating Farms Coalition is a collaborative group of farmers, educators, non-profit organizations and many others committed to building local sources of healthy, accessible food. Through research, education and advocacy, we work together to support the development of eco-efficient farms that use clean recycled water as the basis to grow food. We believe these recirculating farms can create stable green jobs and supply sustainably-grown food – fruits, vegetables, herbs and humanely-raised seafood – in diverse communities nationwide, and someday, worldwide.

To learn more about recirculating farms, visit: www.betterfishfarming.org

Contact: Michael Pauker, michael.pauker@berlinrosen.com, 646-335-0330

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SOURCE Recirculating Farms Coalition