Gulf of Mexico Aquaculture Plan Comment Period Extended

TheFishSite, November 2014 – The U.S. National Marine Fisheries Service has reopened the public comment period on the proposed rule for the Aquaculture Plan for the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

The Gulf of Mexico Fishery Management Council’s Fishery Management Plan for Regulating Offshore Marine Aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico (Aquaculture Plan) was published on 28 August, 2014 (79 FR 51424) and the original comment period closed on October 27, 2014.

NMFS received several requests from the public to extend the original comment period of the proposed rule.

Due to the extensive nature of the Aquaculture Plan and the proposed rulemaking, National Fisheries is reopening the comment period on the proposed rule for 15 days.

The new comment period ends on November 28, 2014. Comments submitted during the original comment period will be incorporated into the public record and will be fully considered during the preparation of the final rule.