Gulf council to consider future of fish farms - al.com

Gulf council to consider future of fish farms - al.com: "The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council is scheduled this week to consider opening federal waters to commercial offshore fish farms.

The proposal creates a permitting process for aquaculturists to develop large-scale fish farms, raising only native species in underwater cages. Officials have said it would likely require as much as $10 million to launch an aquaculture operation in the Gulf.

Fish such as snappers and groupers could be raised in underwater pens. Shrimp are excluded from the plan."