Even as we’re all struggling to stay afloat during these uncertain times, we must be vigilant as “solutions” are offered, that we don’t let the wool be pulled over our eyes. In recent weeks, we’ve seen a surge of propaganda promoting “sustainable” industrial farmed fish and a disturbing narrative that industrial aquaculture (read: factory fish farming) will solve food insecurity. We’re here to tell you that this messaging is false. We’ve seen this before. Big corporations swoop in making grandiose promises to support communities (economical gains, jobs, security, etc.) but the aftermath of these sweeping moves has left communities with low-wage jobs, privatized industries, and displaced residents while the big companies have depleted resources in order to fatten their pockets and control commodities. As we work tirelessly to steer Congress to support communities during this pandemic, we also need to remind Congress of the mistakes of the past. Mistakes that, if repeated, could have a catastrophic impact on hard working communities, especially amidst a global pandemic. The recent victory in the Gulf of Mexico, in which the court of appeals upheld the decision to prohibit offshore aquaculture is indicative of our power when we stand together. Now, it’s important to direct that power to voice our dissent with the latest push for the AQUAA act.
