Groups urge federal government to cancel a permit for proposed fish farm off the Sarasota coast

What could become the nation's first deep water aquaculture facility in federal offshore waters was first proposed in 2019 and would be located about 45 miles off Sarasota in the Gulf of Mexico.

When the Environmental Protection Agency first issued Ocean Era a permit in 2020, the Hawaii based company said it would construct a certain type of pen to cultivate almaco jack, a longfin yellowtail fish.

But in May, the company amended the plan, which includes a change in the design of the fish pen. They also said they would now grow red drum, which is one of the fastest-growing species of fish.

Cris Costello, of the Sierra Club of Florida, says the changes are an almost literal bait and switch.

"Ocean Era has admitted that it will not, and as a practical matter, cannot implement the project as it is currently permitted and yet they want to continue under the same permit. And that's what we can't abide," Costello said.

“So, that's why we have sent a letter to the EPA asking them to deny the permit.”