The Ocean Protection Council (OPC, Natural Resources Agency) released an updated draft of their 2020 – 2025 Strategic Plan, which can be viewed here. The OPC is focused on four cross-cutting goals including addressing climate change, equity, biodiversity, and a blue economy. Development of the goals, objectives, targets and actions in this Strategic Plan was informed by OPC member comments, public comments, existing state agency planning and technical documents, and numerous discussions with state agency staff.
Of note to the aquaculture industry is Objective 4.2: Promote Sustainable Aquaculture on page 31 of the Plan. Objective 4.2 reads:
With the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and others, develop a statewide aquaculture action plan focused on marine algae and shellfish and land-based/recirculating tank operations of marine algae, shellfish and finfish by 2023. The plan should identify areas of opportunity and avoidance to minimize impacts to habitat, biodiversity and wild fisheries and should include minimum project criteria, including best practices for eliminating detrimental environmental impacts.
Marine finfish aquaculture, which the California Aquaculture Association (CAA) is in support of, is omitted from Objective 4.2. CAA urges associated and interested businesses to submit comment addressing the exclusion of marine finfish from Objective 4.2.
Written comments must be submitted by 5pm on December 13, 2019 and can be submitted by email to COPCpublic@resources.ca.gov or by mail to:
Wade Crowfoot, Secretary for Natural Resources
Chair, California Ocean Protection Council
California Resources Agency
1416 Ninth Street, Suite 1311
Sacramento, CA 95814
Please contact Michael Lee at info@caaquaculture.org with any questions or to view a copy of the comment letter submitted by CAA.
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