By Nicole Rivard

Scientists believe that the distinct eye spot on the tail of the red drum—a large, elongated near-shore fish ranging in color from dark copper to pale silver—is a mechanism to confuse predators into attacking the tail instead of the head so they can escape.

While the feature may protect the red drum, found along the U.S. Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico, from osprey and larger fish, unfortunately it’s not protecting them from the greed of Ocean Era, Inc., which since 2019 has been relentlessly trying to begin operation of the Velella Epsilon Project—the first open-ocean aquaculture facility of its kind in federal waters off the Gulf of Mexico.

In other words, a red drum factory farm from which the fish would be sold commercially for food smack dab in the middle of a marine environment that is already hanging in the balance.

Sadly, there are numerous hatcheries around the Gulf that also produce red drums for stock enhancement for recreational fishing, and that’s where Ocean Era plans to source its red drum juveniles from.

Friends of Animals has pushed back just as consistently as Ocean Era tries to push forward, starting when the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved the company’s permit in 2022 and then this spring when the agency approved a modified permit. We have taken legal action opposing every version, stopping the project in its tracks.

We are determined to sink Ocean Era’s harmful project entirely.

It is preposterous that raising fish in large underwater plastic cages offshore is being promoted to meet the so-called growing seafood demand.

“Humans don’t need to eat fish, so we don’t want red drum or any fish farmed for food,” said Priscilla Feral, president of Friends of Animals. “The interest ought to be in keeping the ocean alive.”

At FoA, we find the idea that a fish is a non-feeling thing and does not experience trauma unacceptable. We also find it reprehensible that the red drum is an extremely popular “game fish” due to its “ability to fight for extended periods of time.’” But then again, it should come as no surprise since these are the same people who think red drums taste better if they are bled and turn a blind eye to them often having parasitic worms, particularly larger specimens, because “proper cooking renders them harmless.”

We are also not surprised Ocean Era is acting oblivious to concerns about ocean pollution.

The Velella Epsilon facility would be in one of the most sensitive and damaged areas of federal waters, where harmful algal blooms routinely kill fish, eels, dolphins and sea turtles and represent a threat to human health.

In our most recent legal petition, filed on June 16, 2025, FoA argued that EPA made several serious legal and scientific errors in approving the most recent modified permit. The modified permit had four changes: the switch from farming almaco jack fish to red drum; a reduction in the maximum amount of fish from 88,000 pounds to 55,000 pounds; a change in the net material from copper to monofilament, and a change in the anchor system to a traditional four-point grid.

The agency failed to comply with essential environmental laws—including the Clean Water Act, the Endangered Species Act, and the National Environmental Policy Act—all of which are designed to protect marine life, biodiversity, and water quality.

“The changes in net pen design and fish species that EPA approved with the modified permit do nothing to ameliorate these threats, and in some ways exacerbate them,” said Jennifer Best, director of Friends of Animals Wildlife Law Program. “For example, the facility will still release nitrogen and phosphorus, which are known to fuel harmful algal blooms. Moreover, there will be significantly more mooring lines under the modified permit than the original permit, which could entangle and harm marine life.”

Why this matters more than ever

  • Marine pollution reached over 17 million tons in 2021 and is projected to increase as much as triple by 2040.
  • The Gulf of Mexico is prone to red tide and harmful algal blooms that turn coastal waters red, kill marine animals in massive numbers, and sicken people. These toxic outbreaks feed on the very kind of nutrient pollution that fish farms release.
  • The proposed farm site is home to many threatened and endangered marine species, including five species of sea turtles, Rice’s whales, sperm whales, giant manta rays, and oceanic whitetip sharks.
  • Nearly half of the species in this region—48%—are already moderately or highly vulnerable to climate change. As ocean temperatures rise, these animals struggle to survive: their ability to reproduce, grow, and thrive is being pushed to the brink.

The EPA must adequately analyze how pollution from the proposed fish farm risks severely adding to this pollution and increasing pathogens in our waters.

Federal law mandates that EPA first determine that any discharge of pollutants into the ocean will not cause an “unreasonable degradation” before issuing a permit—which means no serious harm to biodiversity, public health, or industries like tourism.

Friends of Animals believes the EPA has failed to meet this standard and is urging the Environmental Appeals Board to revoke the permit and require a full, lawful review.

“There could not be a worse location for the Ocean Era Project to take place,” said Stephen Hernick, managing attorney for Friends of Animals Wildlife Law Program. “The Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act all prohibit such a reckless and dangerous precedent. Shockingly, EPA is sticking its head in the sand and is saying nowhere is off limits for concentrated fish factory farming. FoA will not sit by and allow this to happen.”