EPA approves Ocean Era's Velella Epsilon fish farm permit 40 miles off Sarasota coast; environmental groups warn of risks to water quality, marine life

Sarasota, FL — This coming holiday weekend, Gulf beaches are facing new problems that are bigger than crowded shores. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has issued a modified NPDES permit to Ocean Era for the proposed Velella Epsilon offshore fish farm, located approximately 40 miles off the Sarasota County coast. The project has sparked widespread opposition from environmental groups and local communities for the significant risks it poses to water quality, marine life, and coastal resilience.

The EPA issued this modified permit in response to Ocean Era's request to alter the initial project, changing the type of fish and facility to be used. During the public comment period, organizations including Suncoast Waterkeeper, Food & Water Watch, Sierra Club Florida, Center for Food Safety, Recirculating Farms, and others submitted extensive comments raising serious concerns about the farm's environmental impacts.

The project threatens to worsen nutrient pollution in an area already vulnerable to harmful algal blooms like red tide, which have devastated the Suncoast's ecosystems and economy. While the modified permit reduces the number of fish and projected nutrient discharge, advocates warn that even small-scale operations can have substantial negative impacts—especially in sensitive areas.

"It's worrisome how we even got to this point when the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) found the Florida Gulf Coast unsuitable for aquaculture due to concerns regarding environmental suitability especially with pollution, disease, proximity to sensitive habitats, and harmful algal bloom risks. Industrial fish farming just doesn't make sense for the Suncoast," states Dr. Abbey Tyrna, Waterkeeper and Executive Director of Suncoast Waterkeeper

Additional concerns include risks from hurricane damage, microplastic and monofilament pollution, negligent release of produced fish, and threats to endangered species such as sea turtles. The EPA's responses largely deferred responsibility to Ocean Era, stating the company must ensure facility stability and protected species monitoring.

Marianne Cufone, Executive Director and Counsel for Recirculating Farms said, "It's so disappointing to see the Environmental Protection Agency approve a permit for a widely opposed offshore finfish aquaculture project in U.S. waters. The Gulf states are already dealing with spinning and dying smalltooth sawfish and rays, massive coral die off, giant mats of rotting sargassum, algal blooms, and a dead zone. We simply cannot handle more pollution in our ocean waters."

"As a resident of Nokomis, FL, I am acutely aware of how nearly every ordinary rainy-season flow of land-based nutrient pollution into the gulf fuels the Red Tide that brings dead fish strewn (and the concomitant stench) across our beaches that destroys our quality of life and property values, and runs tourists and their money away.  What were they thinking when they decided to plague us with a new source of year-round pollution that is placed directly in the water?  It is as if they've decided to completely destroy our local economy!" said Cris Costello, Senior Organizing Manager, Sierra Club Florida.

In other responses, the EPA cited the small scale and duration of the project to reason that the environmental impact would not warrant further review. However, as stated in an EPA response, Velella Epsilon "was designed by the applicant to be a small, pilot-scale demonstration project that would help assess the viability of aquaculture in the Gulf…on a larger scale". Opponents stress that the precedent it sets could enable larger, more harmful operations in the future.

"The EPA's decision to approve this permit for the Velella Epsilon project is deeply disappointing and dangerous. Industrial aquaculture operations like this introduce pollution, threaten native fish populations with disease and genetic disruption, and put Gulf Coast communities that rely on clean water and healthy fisheries at risk. This project is a gateway for the expansion of factory fish farms in our open waters. The Gulf is already burdened by pollution and climate impacts; adding floating industrial feedlots to the mix is irresponsible and shortsighted. We urge federal agencies to prioritize the health of our marine ecosystems and coastal communities over experimental ventures that benefit private industry at public expense," said Martha Collins, Executive Director for Healthy Gulf

Several groups — including Food & Water Watch, Sierra Club Florida, Center for Food Safety, Suncoast Waterkeeper, Tampa Bay Waterkeeper, Healthy Gulf, and Recirculating Farms — are reviewing legal options and remain committed to monitoring Ocean Era's activities to ensure full compliance with environmental standards.