Great Lakes Fish Farming

Great Lakes Fish Farming Panned In Trout Unlimited Commissioned Poll


Conservation organizations and two lawmakers rolled out a new poll today that shows opposition to allowing floating net-pen fish farms in the Great Lakes.

Lansing-based EPIC-MRA conducted the Michigan Trout Unlimited-commissioned survey over the weekend. On first blush, of likely voters surveyed, 56 percent were opposed or leaned opposed (19 somewhat opposed, 37 percent strongly opposed) to allowing commercial fish farms in the Great Lakes while 17 percent leaned toward support (12 percent somewhat, 5 percent strongly).

A second more detailed question that provided arguments for and against floating net-pen fish farms in the Great Lakes increased opposition to 68 percent who were opposed or leaned opposed (47 percent strongly, 21 percent somewhat) with 20 percent supporting or leaning toward supporting (7 percent strongly, 13 percent somewhat).

The survey found that all regions of the state opposed the idea of allowing the fish farms with the strongest opposition coming from Northern Michigan (77 percent).

The poll was released today during the first day of House hearings on Click to track bill HB 5255 HB 5255, sponsored by Rep. Jon BUMSTEAD (R-Newaygo), before the House Natural Resources Committee. Click to track bill HB 5255 HB 5255, along with Click to track bill SB 0526 SB 0526 sponsored by Sen. Rick JONES (R-Grand Ledge), would ban such commercial fish operations. A majority of all Democratic groups opposed the concept.

Competing legislation has also been introduced in the Senate to allow for such operations and set up regulations for it. Those bills are sponsored by Sen. Darwin BOOHER (R-Evart) and include Click to track bill SB 0681 SB 0681, Click to track bill SB 0682 SB 0682 and Click to track bill SB 0683 SB 0683 (See "Great Lakes fish Farming Debate Hooks Competing Bills," 01/07/2016).

According to Dan EICHINGER, executive director of the Michigan United Conservation Clubs, allowing for fish farms in net-pens in the Great Lakes ignores risks to a major economic interest, the sport fishing industry, for the benefit of the small economic gains that would be seen from allowing floating net-pen fish farms on the Great Lakes.

"$4 million and about 40 jobs would be added to Michigan's economy," Eichinger said, if the Legislature allowed the farms. "Sport fishing is a $4 billion industry in Michigan. It's literally 1,000 times more valuable today than what the economists at MSU think net pens could be worth."

Eichinger added that his West Michigan Dutch relatives always stressed the line to him, "don't step over a dollar to pick up a penny," something he said Michigan would be doing.

During this morning's Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Ed MCBROOM (R-Vulcan) pushed Eichinger on whether MUCC could argue against fish farms that only grew the native species of the Great Lakes and ensured the fish within the pens were sterilized.

"Does MUCC feel there is a specific risk that would not be mitigated if we used the exact same fish and ensured they can't reproduce?" McBroom asked.

Eichinger pointed to a commercial fishery case in South America that resulted in the decimation of the native salmon population.

McBroom then questioned if MUCC and other opponents to fish farms singled out this type of agriculture, what would be next?

"What's the next farming enterprise that we're going to decide is too risky?" McBroom asked

Eichinger responded by noting, "My mission is to protect the Great Lakes. For you to characterize this as some anti-agriculture scheme by the conservation community belittles the work we're trying to do."

REMEMBER Everyone call your State and Federal Reps and your Federal and State Senators even if your not in Michigan, We don't need another mess in the Great Lakes.


People unable to attend district office hours can contact Rep. McBroom’s Lansing office toll free at 1-855-DIST-108, by e-mail at edmcbroom@house.mi.gov; or by mail at P.O. Box 30014, State Capitol, Lansing, MI 48909-7514.
State Senate District: 38
Senator: Casperson, Tom
Address: 705 Farnum Building
Office Phone: (517)373-7840
Office Fax: (517)373-3932
E-mail: http:///www.SenatorTomCasperson.com/contact/
Website: http://www.senate.mi.gov/casperson

People unable to attend district office hours can contact Rep. McBroom’s Lansing office toll free at 1-855-DIST-108, by e-mail at edmcbroom@house.mi.gov; or by mail at P.O. Box 30014, State Capitol, Lansing, MI 48909-7514.


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