NAA Webinar: Developing Successful Litigation Strategies in Challenges to Aquaculture Permits
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 (2:00 PM - 3:00 PM) (EDT)
Description
About the Speaker
Robert Smith is a partner at K&L Gates, a global law firm with over 20 offices throughout the United States. Robert is a member of the firm’s environment, land and natural resources practice group. His practice focuses on land use, governmental and regulatory permitting, shoreline development, and aquaculture. He has assisted dozens of aquaculture companies in obtaining local, state, and federal permits and licenses; lobbied on behalf of the aquaculture industry for legislative, regulatory, and policy initiatives; and defended aquaculture companies in litigation and enforcement actions brought by private parties and regulatory agencies. He currently splits his time between Seattle, Washington and California and spends his free time in the mountains hiking, camping, and skiing.
About Our Sponsor
President & CEO
Gulfstream Aquaculture, LLC
M: 850-240-3414
dennis@gulfstreamaquaculture.com
Dennis Peters is the president and CEO of Gulfstream Aquaculture, LLC, in Miramar Beach, Florida, which focuses on marine finfish research and development; offshore, coastal, and landbased siting analyses; demonstration and pilot farm operations; and commercial feasibility assessments for landbased and open ocean aquaculture. Dennis’ tenure in oceanographic and coastal marine research, monitoring, and permitting, as well as in fisheries management and aquaculture development, has prioritized the protection and enhancement of marine and estuarine ecosystems of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Caribbean waters.
Dennis has been involved in and led multiple aquaculture feasibility studies assessing the landbased and/or offshore requirements for strategic areas in or near Vero Beach, Florida; Lucayan Waterway, Grand Bahama; Quepos, Costa Rica; Roatán, Honduras; Kona, Hawaii; Ewa Beach, Oahu; Placencia, Belize; Sarasota, Florida; Saipan, CNMI; and the Florida Keys, Florida. These feasibility studies evaluated multiple marine fish candidate species for commercial aquaculture development including mahi-mahi or common dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus), red drum or redfish (Sciaenops ocellatus), Japanese flounder or olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus), and Kampachi or almaco jack (Seriola rivoliana).
Dennis’ permitting experience includes the development of Environmental Assessments (EAs), Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), Biological Assessments (BAs), Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) Assessments, Protected Species Management Plans, and Coastal Consistency Determinations (CCDs), in support of U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Section 10 permits and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Dennis has also conducted Endangered Species Act (ESA) Section 7 consultations and National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) Section 106 consultations. As an oceanographic scientist, Dennis has conducted Baseline Environmental Surveys (BES) and reports in support of the permitting for these feasibility studies, which utilize sidescan sonar, sub-bottom profiler, magnetometer, and hydrographic data evaluations for identifying optimal benthic conditions for siting offshore aquaculture operations while maximizing the protection of sensitive marine species and habitats through minimization and avoidance.
Utilizing sound science in the aquaculture siting and decision-making process, Dennis addresses the local environmental issues in concert with the sensitive policy and political concerns of the local, territory or state, and Federal stakeholders most responsible for ecosystem management and protection. Dennis understands that collaboration with all ocean user groups is essential during the identification and assessment of sustainable offshore aquaculture areas suitable for demonstration and commercial farm operations. Dennis’ experience with this process has led not only to effective aquaculture permitting, but equally important, to achieving the necessary ‘social licensing’ through building stakeholder trust.