State to host Great Lakes aquaculture meeting Nov. 19
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Statewide DNR News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Nov. 5, 2015
Media contacts: Tammy Newcomb, 517-284-5832 or Ed Golder, 517-284-5815
State to host Great Lakes aquaculture meeting Nov. 19
Public session in Gaylord will focus on commercial net-pen proposals, state science panel findings
State leaders today announced an upcoming meeting in Gaylord, Michigan, to review and discuss the issues around net-pen fish farming in the Great Lakes.
Commercial net-pen aquaculture is the practice of raising fish in an underwater net (or solid structure cage) that serves as a pen. Two companies last year approached the state of Michigan with proposals to raise rainbow trout in netpens in lakes Huron and Michigan. The Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development, Natural Resources, and Environmental Quality called for a thorough review of the science, regulation and economics of commercial net-pen aquaculture. Five resulting reports have been completed and posted online.
Staff from the three agencies will host a public meeting Thursday, Nov. 19, from 1 to 4 p.m. in the Convention Center at Treetops Resort, 3962 Wilkinson Road, in Gaylord, to inform the public about the content of the reports and receive public comment.
Those interested in providing public comment at the meeting are encouraged to register in advance by contacting Hannah Guyer at 517-284-5813 or guyerh@michigan.gov.
The five reviews – completed with help from an independent aquaculture science advisory panel, the Small Business Development Center and Michigan State University – are available at www.michigan.gov/aquaculture. They include one science-based report exploring fish health and water quality; one report looking at applicable regulations, rules, jurisdictions and agreements governing such operations; and three separate evaluations of the potential economic impact of commercial net-pen aquaculture in the Great Lakes:
Science-based review
•Great Lakes Net-Pen Commercial Aquaculture: A Short Summary of the Science
Regulations-based review
•A Regulatory Analysis of Proposed Commercial Net-Pen Aquaculture in the Great Lakes
Economics-based reviews
•Overview of Natural Resource Values Potentially at Risk from Consequences of Net-Pen Aquaculture
•Expected Economic Impact of Cage Trout Aquaculture on Michigan’s Great Lakes
•Aquaculture Industry Report from IBIS World Industry Report 11251- Fish & Seafood Aquaculture in the US
Those unable to attend the Nov. 19 meeting can provide written comments via email at DNR-Net-Pen-Comments@michigan.gov or via regular mail at:
Michigan Department of Natural Resources
ATTN: Hannah Guyer/Executive Office
525 West Allegan St.
P.O. Box 30028
Lansing, MI 48909-7528
Comments will be accepted through Dec. 4, 2015. All submitted comments will be made publicly available following the close of the comment/review period.
Learn more about this industry in Michigan at www.michigan.gov/aquaculture.
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is committed to the conservation, protection, management, use and enjoyment of the state’s natural and cultural resources for current and future generations. For more information, go to www.michigan.gov/dnr.
