Open Ocean Aquaculture (Source: Ocean Farm Technologies, Inc.)

The National Sustainable Offshore Aquaculture Act 2009 has been introduced in the US to protect ocean health from risks of open ocean aquaculture. 

There are currently no overarching policies or laws stipulating how this method of fish farming should be governed in America’s territorial waters, generally beyond three miles from the coastline. 

This legislation establishes the first legally binding national standards for how fish farming should be conducted in the open ocean and offers a scientific based precautionary approach including environmental, socioeconomic and liability standards.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has said it will offer its own national aquaculture policy early in 2010.

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