Fish Farm Owner Wants Out of Factory Farm Rule

US - The owner of a fish farm wants Delaware County officials to exempt aquaculture from a proposed new ordinance that would govern confined animal feeding operations.

Michael Miller, who owns Bell Aquaculture about 10 miles northeast of Muncie, also said passage of the CAFO ordinance could cause him to halt plans to expand his $10 million operation.

Restrictions on new facilities in Delaware County should aquatic animals remain part of this zoning approval process will eliminate this county from any further consideration for building additional facilities by Bell Aquaculture or others," he said.

Miller questioned why the CAFO proposal should include fish farms along with operations that house dairy cows, swine, chickens and other animals.

"Is there a valid reason for Delaware County to put aquatic animals in with pigs? Please don't put us in with CAFOs," he urged city-county planning officials at a public hearing on the ordinance last week.

Miller said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Indiana Department of Environmental Management already have regulations governing confined aquatic animal production.

Bell Aquaculture produces yellow perch for the restaurant market The company plans to create 70 jobs at its farm in Albany and 120 jobs at a planned processing facility in Redkey.

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Source: Indianapolis Business Journal

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