State Lawmaker Wants to Ban Great Lakes Fish Farms
New legislation would prevent aquaculture of fish in the Great Lakes.
By Rick Pluta and Jake Neher
A state lawmaker wants to make sure commercial fish farms will never be allowed to operate in portions of the Great Lakes controlled by Michigan.
State Senator Rick Jones (R-Grand Ledge) says commercial fish farming could create a huge problem with waste.
“This waste could create algae blooms, all sorts of problems on the shore, as well as out on the lake,” he says.
He says fish that escape might also wreak havoc on the lakes’ eco-system.
Conservation groups are backing Jones’ legislation, even though Ontario is the only jurisdiction on any of the lakes that currently
permits commercial fish farming. It’s been two decades since a new permit for commercial fish farming’s been issued in the Great Lakes.
But the Jones legislation could also cover fish farms on inland waters that flow into the Great Lakes, including one in Grayling.
Here’s a link to the bill:
http://legislature.mi.gov/doc.
