Best cage farming practices established for Caribbean

The United States-based Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Wednesday published best management practices (BMPs) for Marine Cage Culture in U.S. Caribbean waters.

The BMPs, intended to inform efficient and environmentally sound siting, permitting and management of marine aquaculture, were developed in response to questions and concerns posed by the Coral Reef Task Force on potential environmental impacts of aquaculture in Caribbean waters.

GCFI worked closely with numerous partners to develop these BMPs, including: NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation and Aquaculture Programs; Puerto Rico Sea Grant; coral scientists; aquaculture industry representatives; and environmental NGOs.

The origins of this collaboration date back to 2010 when GCFI hosted a workshop in San Juan to facilitate exchange of scientific and regulatory information regarding marine cage culture.

More than 20 expert reviewers provided input to improve and refine the BMPs, which represent guidelines that can be implemented voluntarily at marine cage culture operations in U.S. territorial waters of the Caribbean.

For more information and to download the publication, visit www.gcfi.org.

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