FISH FARMERS ANGLE FOR LEGISLATION
Tuesday, May 11th, 2010
ALBANY — Upstate fish farmers are urging support of new legislation that will lift a Department of Environmental Conservation ban on the sale of farm-raised black bass to New York fish markets, retailers and restaurants.
If the bill passes, it will help create new jobs in rural areas of Upstate New York and increase farm profitability.
“We need economic growth in Upstate New York right now and closing off the food fish market for New York fish growers is just another example of the many regulations that continue to restrict Upstate development when we need it the most,” said Dean Norton, president of New York Farm Bureau.
Currently, state fish farmers can grow black bass only for stocking ponds, not for food. However, the sale of black bass as food fish is permitted in neighboring states.
The new legislation would allow New York’s growers to take advantage of the nearly inexhaustible market inside the state, providing locally grown fish for New Yorkers.
“If every fish grower in New York cultured exclusively black bass for food fish, we still wouldn’t be able to meet all the state’s demand since New York City is such a huge market,” said Ted Universal, president of the New York Aquaculture Association and owner of Coolwater Fish Farm in Geneseo, N.Y. “This provides tremendous opportunity for our farmers.”
Many fish farms, which operate with a small profit margin, could close their businesses because they cannot afford the additional costs of recent DEC mandates without expanding the markets for their products. Growers would have a new option for saving their farms under this legislation.
New York’s aquaculture industry supports many other industries in the state, including tourism, recreation and sport fishing.
“By allowing another market option for fish farmers, the health and growth of the aquaculture industry is encouraged and the health of other industries important to the economic well-being of the state are protected,” Norton said.
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New York Farm Bureau is the statewide lobbying/trade organization that represents thousands of member families. Its members and the public know the organization as "The Voice of New York Agriculture." New York Farm Bureau is dedicated to solving the economic and public policy issues challenging the agricultural community.
