Gulf fish farm proposal inches closer

Large-scale commercial fish farming in the open waters of the Gulf of Mexico is now a step closer. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Thursday declined to block the plan, despite concerns from some fishing and environmental advocates. That paves the way for the region to be the first to develop open-ocean aquaculture in federal waters. The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council earlier this year approved a plan to allow production of native fish, such as snapper and grouper, in underwater cages and pens. (Source: Mobile Press-Register, New Orleans Times-Picayune, 09/04/09)