Date: March 21, 2007 11:47:03 AM PDT
Subject: RE: 07-0032; TM-07-05 NOSB, National Organic Program (NOP) for farmed fish
Valerie Frances, Executive Director
The United States National Organic Standards Board (NOSB)
NOSB, USDA-AMS-TMD-NOP,
1400 Independence Ave., SW., Room 4008-So., Ag Stop 0268
Washington, DC 20250-0268
RE: 07-0032; TM-07-05 NOSB, National Organic Program (NOP)
Dear Ms. Frances:
I am submitting comments for the Olympic Environmental Council in WA State. Our organization began in 1990 and is a 501(c)(3). We represent citizens on the North Olympic Peninsula of WA State. We
oppose using the good, important, critical NOS for food raised by an
industry that does not and can not practice organic standards. Should
the standards be changed to suit this industry, the U.S.D.A. organic
label will be a mockery of the world. Importantly,
it will be a dangerous misconception for the citizens who need organic
food to survive and all others who rely on it.
Our organization well knows how this industry works. They have attempted to, and at times succeeded in placing pens in water systems in our area. And now the single one in one of our counties is sited in very toxic waters. The pens add to the toxicity of the marine area and these fish are being sold for human consumption! Now,
with the help of NOAA, they plan to try to site pens in Puget Sound, a
huge water body we are in the midst of trying to clean up.
The
use of toxins, the penning of animals, the feeding of unnatural food
and food filled with unsustainable and unsafe ingredients and the
taking of wild fish for their feed; the caging of animals in a barrier
sprayed with toxins; a food pregnant women are warned not to eat; a
food that has to be died to obtain a somewhat natural color; a food
that is unnaturally fat because it doesn't have the exercise wild fish
have nor eat the natural food that gives them strength and color; a
food often hit with disease and parasites; etc.. does not compute to
"ORGANIC." Added to all this, the escapees displace wild stocks from their natural streams, helping to crash the wild stocks.
NOAA
has perpetually tried to support this industry to the ruination of our
national water systems and the sacrifice of marine and human health. Instead
of working on behalf of the public, NOAA has been and continues to work
on behalf of an industry that ruins water bodies, marine life and can
poorly affect public health.
We urge you to protect the integrity of the organic label. Exclude farmed fish from organic rules. These "salmon" do are not raised by good, sustainable practices.
Darlene Schanfald, Secretary
Olympic Environmental Council
PO Box 1906
Port Townsend WA 98368
