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Rubio Welcomes NOAA Announcement of Gulf of Mexico Aquaculture Opportunity Area

Aug 20, 2020 | Press Releases

Miami, FL — U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) welcomes the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) announcement that the Gulf of Mexico region has been selected as an Aquaculture Opportunity Area. This announcement comes after Rubio sent a letter to U.S. Department of Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross to designate waters near Florida as one of the first aquaculture opportunity areas, as detailed in President Trump’s May 7, 2020 Executive Order, “Promoting American Seafood Competitiveness and Economic Growth.” The exact locations of the aquaculture farm sites will be selected based on public input, scientific analysis of spatial availability and environmental factors, and in coordination with states and regional fishery commissions.
 
“It is welcome news that NOAA has selected the Gulf of Mexico region as one of the first aquaculture opportunity areas,” Rubio said. “As NOAA determines the exact locations of the aquaculture farm sites, I hope that they consider federal waters near Florida as a common-sense option. I look forward to working with the Administration to promote a more resilient domestic food supply chain to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign fish stocks and help ensure that Americans continue to have access to nutritious seafood.”