NOAA’s National Marine Fisheries Service today announced that it is seeking data, comments, views, information, analysis, or suggestions from the public to support the identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) in Alaska state waters, including siting parameters that can be used to select potential study areas for further analysis, with feedback due by Monday, Dec. 18.
NMFS proposes to select study areas in Alaska state waters that (1) are located within a 25-mile radius of coastal community population centers as a proxy for needed infrastructure to support aquaculture development in Alaska; and (2) do not regularly experience significant sea ice cover.
NMFS also notes that public input will inform the agency as it works with federal, state, and local agencies, appropriate Regional Fishery Management Councils, and in coordination with appropriate Alaska Native Tribes and organizations to identify AOAs, with more opportunity for public input to be provided in the National Environmental Policy Act process.
