What do you make of this?

[Nikki Stone1]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070311/ap_on_sc/fish_farming

White House seeks to boost aquaculture

By JOHN HEILPRIN, Associated Press Writer Sun Mar 11, 10:52 AM ET
WASHINGTON - The Bush administration wants to allow ocean farming for shellfish, salmon and saltwater species in federal waters for the first time, hoping to grab a greater share of the $70 billion aquaculture market.

A plan being announced Monday by Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez would let companies operate fish farms three miles to 200 miles offshore, but without some of the rules on size, season and harvest methods that apply to other commercial fishermen.

Fish farms already operate on inland and coastal waters as far as three miles into the ocean, which fall under state jurisdiction.

Environmental concerns have arisen about wastewater generated by such operations. Gutierrez, however, said the administration's proposal had safeguards and would permit states to ban fish farming up to 12 miles off their coast.

'We believe we can do it in a way that is environmentally sound, that makes sense for our economy. And given that we are importing so much farm-raised fish, we might as well do it ourselves," Gutierrez told The Associated Press.

The plan, to be presented at the International Boston Seafood Show, would help the $1 billion U.S. aquaculture industry roughly double over the next few decades, he said.

Globally, the $70 billion aquaculture business accounts for almost half the seafood consumed in the world today as wild fish stocks decline.

About 70 percent of all the seafood eaten in the United States comes from overseas, contributing "a trade deficit of about $9 billion in fish," Gutierrez said. Almost half is farm-raised.

Farming of saltwater species such as salmon and shrimp is common in countries such as Thailand, Canada, China and Scotland. Much of their catch is sold in the United States.

Until now, the U.S. industry has focused mainly on catfish, tilapia and other freshwater fish. Some ocean farms raise shellfish such as mussels, clams and oysters, as well as shrimp and salmon.

"We can do it a lot better than anyone else," Gutierrez told the AP. "We believe that the power of the marketplace will be what determines the success here."...

[FogerRox]

1. The international fish catch peaked in about 1971

Peak oil in the USA was about 1971.
Easy dug up Iron ore, Hematite, ran out about 1970. Only the deeper, harder & more brittle taconite was left in the USA. 1.5 miles down....
Most mature trees that could easily be cut for timber, were already cut by 1970.

1970:
Peak Fish.
Peak Oil.
Peak Iron.
Peak Timber.

The only chance of bringing the oceans fish back is to stop fishing them for at least 2o years. Sword fish being caught now are about 90 to 100 pounds, swordfish reach sexual maturity at about 85 to 90 pounds, they are 5 yrs from being extinct.