By Margaret Bauman
Alaska Journal of Commerce

Gov. Sarah Palin voiced objections Sept. 12 to a federal government's proposal that would allow decommissioned oil and gas platforms in federal waters to be used for fish farming and other forms of aquaculture.

Palin was back in Alaska Sept. 10-13 while campaigning as GOP presidential candidate John McCain's running mate.

Palin, who has fished commercially in Bristol Bay with her husband, Todd, said that Alaska's natural wild fisheries have been well managed on a sustainable basis for years and are critically important to the state's economy.

Her comments came in response to a Minerals Management Service proposal that would allow offshore oil and gas platforms to be utilized for aquaculture. Palin said disease, parasites and escpaement of non-native stocks from fish farms are some of the threats that aquaculture can pose to wild fish stocks.

Palin said the state has consistently requested that authorization of offshore aquaculture be considered only after establishing comprehensive biological and socio-economic baselines that will allow for a meaningful evaluation of its effects. The proposed rule does not include such provisions.

Palin said in a letter to Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne that offshore aquaculture should be removed from a list of authorized alternate rights-of-use for decommissioned oil and gas platforms.

In a separate letter, Palin asked that the MMS schedule of public hearings in coastal states on the proposed rule be expanded to include public hearings in Alaska, where the potential for expansion of oil and gas development activity is great. Palin also objected to MMS' regulatory authorization of offshore aquaculture when Congress is considering two bills authorizing such activity.

“This issue is of such importance to our coastal economy and environment that it deserves a thorough and comprehensive review by Congress and should not be authorized through regulation by an agency whose primary expertise is energy, not management of marine resources,” Palin said.

The governor said that if Kempthorne does move forward with a proposed rule change allowing aquaculture activities in offshore federal waters, he should prohibit farming of certain species such as salmon, halibut and black cod.

She further asked the secretary to allow each individual state the ability to decide for itself whether aquaculture should occur in federal waters off its shores.

Margaret Bauman can be reached at margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com">margie.bauman@alaskajournal.com.