Newly proposed U.S. EPA rules for the fish farming industry, the fastest growing sector of agriculture, attempt to harmonize a patchwork of state laws aimed at curbing nutrient and genetic pollution (Fed. Regist. 2002, 67, 57,871-57,928). If finalized by the target date of June 2004, the rules would mandate plans to control the escape of non-native and genetically engineered fish and mitigate the use of antibiotics and pesticides.

The plans would be written into national water quality permits, already required for most operations and would specify which best management practices (BMPs) would be used to deal with escaped fish, as well as pesticide and antibiotic use, says Marvin Rubin, branch chief of engineering and analysis at EPA’s Office of Water. BMPs would be selected on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the permit writer, whether that be a state or EPA regulator.

The proposed rules don't go far enough to prevent genetic pollution of wild fish stocks by genetically engineered and alien fish species because the BMPs are too vague and it is not clear they will be a mandatory part of the plan, says Tracie Letterman, fish program director for the Center for Food Safety, a nonprofit advocacy group.

The proposed rules would also set national standards for total suspended solids in fish farm effluent for the first time, a move that will duplicate state standards already in place, says Randy MacMillan, president of the National Aquaculture Association, an industry group.—JANET PELLEY