Fish Factory Could Bring Diseases, Parasites To Famed River
LANSING--The
Sierra Club announced today that it will challenge a state permit
allowing a controversial factory fish farm in the famed Au Sable River
near Grayling. The permit, issued on July 1 by the Michigan Department
of Environmental Quality (DEQ), would allow the fish farm to discharge
pollutants into the East Branch of the Au Sable River, just upstream
from where it joins the world-renowned “Holy Waters” section of the Main
Branch of the river. Another
state agency, the Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources, has described
the Holy Waters stretch of the Au Sable as “unique”, and notes that it
is “renowned” throughout the world.
“The idea of placing an industrial fish farm within the Au Sable River is just mind-boggling", said Anne Woiwode, Director of the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter.
"Fish waste, food, disease, and parasites are inevitably associated
with fish farms of this type. To allow the discharge of these substances
into the Au Sable River goes against everything Michiganders expect
from our state officials ”.
Woiwode
also pointed out that the permit does not require monitoring or control
of the release of disease, parasites, most pollutants, or even live
fish into the river.
"There
is evidence indicating that there have already been escapees from this
facility, even before it has ramped up to industrial capacity”, said
Woiwode.
Attorney Nick Schroeck, Executive Director of the Great Lakes Environmental Law Center, represents Sierra Club. Schroeck says that the DEQ has failed in their duty to protect the environment.
“The
DEQ has admitted that operation of this facility will degrade one of
the most economically valuable rivers in the country,” said Schroeck.
“But the agency claims that this degradation is acceptable, because it
will provide 2 full time and 2 part time jobs. The risk to the Au
Sable far outweighs any potential benefits from this facility."
The Sierra Club will file a petition today for a Contested Case with the DEQ, challenging the permit.
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Sierra
Club is the nation's oldest and largest grassroots environmental
organization, with 150,000 members and supporters in Michigan.