Fish Kills' Hidden Link How Animal Feeding Operations Hurt Florida's Coastal Businesses

Authors

Julia Williams

First Page

34

Document Type

Article

Abstract

This paper proposes that agricultural water pollution should be further limited. As water pollution laws have thus far failed to adequately guard against nutrient pollution, despite abundantly available regenerative agricultural models, this three-part solution aims to empower citizens and the business industry to hold animal feeding operations accountable. To that end, this paper proposes: (1) expanding Florida’s Red Ride Task Force; (2) educating citizens via a media campaign; and (3) mandating feeding operations participate in Florida’s now voluntary Environmental Stewardship Certification Program. Part II of this paper describes the scientific process whereby discharge from animal feeding operations causes Florida’s fish kills. It also explains the immense economic impact that fish kills have on Florida’s coastal economies. Next, Part III analyzes the legal mechanisms that regulate water pollution at the federal and state levels. It further analyzes the effectiveness of those controls on curbing the negative impacts from agricultural nutrient pollution. Finally, Part III details a three-part solution to address the lack of nutrient pollution regulation by prioritizing community awareness of the links between animal feeding operations, fish kills, and coastal businesses that are stymied by polluters.

Recommended Citation

Julia Williams, Fish Kills' Hidden Link How Animal Feeding Operations Hurt Florida's Coastal Businesses, 36 St. Thomas L. Rev. 34 (2023).
Available at: https://scholarship.stu.edu/stlr/vol36/iss1/3