DATE: October 6, 2020
SUBJECT:
Title
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN AGREEMENT UNDER THE BLUE ECONOMY INCUBATOR WITH PACIFIC OCEAN AQUAFARMS, LLC (POA) FOR THE DISTRICT TO ASSIST WITH THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT (NEPA) REVIEW PROCESSES AND CONDITIONAL USE OF DISTRICT FACILITIES FOR POA'S PROPOSED PROJECT DEMONSTRATING SUSTAINABLE OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE IN FEDERAL WATERS FOR A 15 YEAR TERM WITH AN OPTION TO EXTEND FOR AN ADDITIONAL TEN YEARS AND THIS AGREEMENT HAS NO ASSOCIATED FUNDING FROM THE DISTRICT
Body
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
On October 10, 2017, the Board of Port Commissioners directed staff to begin negotiating agreements for the second round of proposals under the District's Blue Economy Incubator (BEI). One of the proposals presented to the Board was a project to demonstrate sustainable offshore aquaculture in federal waters by Rose Canyon Fisheries, Inc., an entity partially owned by Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute (HSWRI).
Since then, HSWRI has joined with new partners and is continuing its same proposal under a new entity, Pacific Ocean AquaFarms, LLC (POA). Staff has negotiated a proposed agreement with POA, and recommends the Board authorize an agreement for the District to assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review processes for POA's proposed project demonstrating sustainable offshore aquaculture in federal waters, and, if such federal permits are granted, allow POA to use the District's Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal for loading and offloading of fish and other materials for the project in exchange for a certain share of POA's revenue. (Attachment A).
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Adopt a resolution authorizing an agreement under the Blue Economy Incubator with Pacific Ocean AquaFarms, LLC (POA) for the District to assist with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review processes and conditional use of District facilities for POA's proposed project demonstrating sustainable offshore aquaculture in federal w...
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