Backbone Campaign's giant salmon helped activists deliver the message to NOAA: "Say No To the EO - Don't Cage Our Oceans." Indigenous activists fighting for clean federal waters, encountered a stupid amount of cops and security for a respectful and beautiful petition delivery.

When they delivered the petitions, they were harassed by NOAA's security and told "you don't have the right to be here." The head security even said he could "do anything he wanted with us." The group was able to hand over the petitions eventually.

In the three years since its release, Executive Order 13921 has paved the way for the development of offshore aquaculture facilities in federal waters without Congressional oversight. Facilities are already poised for construction off Florida and California coasts despite public outcry, with other sites underway. These facilities will cultivate thousands of finfish in massive floating net pens that allow pollution to flow directly into open waters.

“For three years, we’ve repeatedly urged the administration to change course, including delivering an open letter to the White House, visiting regional NOAA offices, submitting public comments and more,” said James Mitchell, Legislative Director for Don’t Cage Our Oceans. “President Biden has pledged to safeguard our environment for all people and address longstanding environmental injustices. It’s time that promise includes revoking this Trump-era order.”

“Independent fishermen across the country need support from their leaders in standing up to corporate control of fish farming,” said Jon Russell, Food Justice Organizer for North American Marine Alliance. “Coastal businesses and communities depend on healthy marine ecosystems and wild fish populations and industrial aquaculture development jeopardizes these critical public resources.”

“President Biden’s latest Executive Order on equity and environmental justice promises to center the concerns of Tribal leaders and fisherfolx, but his actions are not measuring up,” said Carl Wassilie, Yupik Biologist of BlockCorporateSalmon. “Industrial aquaculture facilities threaten Indigenous communities, our culture, and our traditional ways of life. Native communities have always led the way in sustainable methods of hunting and fishing, and NOAA should look to Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) to chart a more just, environmentally sound future for seafood production instead of supporting risky corporate construction in our oceans.”

Check out the video on Instagram HERE.