I am writing to you in support of the Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025 (KFFA). Introduced by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK), this bipartisan bill is an essential piece of legislation that will bar any federal agency from establishing industrial aquaculture facilities in our federal waters without Congressional oversight.

KFFA protects our oceans by placing checks on the development of offshore finfish farming. Large-scale commercial aquaculture of carnivorous finfish poses threats to our oceans, public health, and small- and medium-scale commercial fishermen. These operations contaminate surrounding waters with pharmaceuticals, excess feed, and untreated waste. The high density of fish in these operations accelerates the spread of pests and diseases, jeopardizing wild fish populations.

What's more is these crowded fish farms are highly prone to escapements when the cages break open or detach. In some cases, tens or even hundreds of thousands of farmed fish flood the ecosystem, where they can spread disease, compete for food, and crossbreed with wild fish populations. In a backwards arrangement, millions of tons of wild fish each year are processed into fishmeal and fish oil to feed farm-raised finfish, actually exacerbating overfishing. Marine fish farms also pose direct threats to marine mammals and seabirds, leading to entanglements and behavioral disruptions.

The widespread socio-economic and ecological harm inflicted on fishing and coastal communities, seafood markets, and tourism, along with associated businesses, far outweighs the minimal revenue and few jobs created by industrial-scale offshore fish farming.

By supporting the Keep Finfish Free Act of 2025, you are defending our oceans and thousands of families who depend on wild-caught seafood — both for their livelihood and as a source of clean, nutritious protein.

I urge you to co-sponsor this bill to safeguard our marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and the future of clean, healthy seafood for all Americans.