NOAA Requests Public Input on Draft Programmatic Environment Impact Statement Supporting the Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas in Gulf of Mexico Federal Waters

What is Happening:

On November 22, 2024, a notice was published in the Federal Register ( 89 FR 92681 , published November 22, 2024) announcing the availability of the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (DPEIS) for the Identification of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOA) in U.S. Federal Waters of the Gulf of Mexico for public review and comment. The DPEIS builds upon a multi-year planning effort to identify areas that may be environmentally, socially, and economically suitable for offshore aquaculture development in the Gulf. It assesses the impacts of identifying one or more AOAs in federal waters of the Gulf, as well as the potential impacts associated with siting aquaculture operations in those locations in the future.

A total of four Preferred AOA Alternatives are identified in the DPEIS , each ranging in size from 500 to 2,000 acres. Three of the Preferred AOA Alternatives are located off the coast of Texas, and one is located off the coast of Louisiana.

How You Can Get Involved:

Public input is a critical component of the process of identifying AOAs in Gulf federal waters. The publishing of the Notice of Availability initiates a 90-day public comment period that will conclude on February 20, 2025. The public may review the DPEIS and provide NOAA Fisheries with comments which may be submitted electronically, by mail, or verbally at one of three upcoming virtual public meetings:

• Tuesday, December 17, 2024, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. EST
• Wednesday January 15, 2025, 3:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. CST/4:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. EST
• Thursday, February 13, 2025, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. CST/7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. EST

For details on how you can register to attend these virtual meetings and participate in the public comment process, please visit the Get Involved: Public Comment section of the Gulf of Mexico Aquaculture Opportunity Area PEIS webpage.

Where can I learn more about Aquaculture Opportunity Areas:

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Quick Glance Contact List for the NOAA Fisheries Southeast Regional Office

Permits Mailbox: The Permits Office in St. Petersburg, Florida now has a Permits mailbox in the front lobby (263 13th Ave. South, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701). You can now drop off original permits for permit transfers. Envelopes with information labels will be provided so that your documents can be attached to the correct application. The mailbox will be checked daily. For more information, contact the Permits Office at 877-376-4877.

Other contacts:

Media: Allison Garrett, 727-551-5750

Recreational Fishing Coordinator: Sean Meehan 727-885-4202

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