Gulf Fishermens Ass'n v. Nat'l Marine Fisheries Serv.

JANE TRICHE MILAZZO, UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

*635Before the Court are Cross Motions for Summary Judgment (Docs. 80, 82). For the following reasons, Plaintiffs' Motion is GRANTED, and Defendants' Motion is DENIED.

BACKGROUND

This case is a challenge to administrative action by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), whereby it adopted a regulatory scheme for offshore aquaculture in the federal waters of the Gulf of Mexico Exclusive Economic Zone.1 Plaintiffs include a bevy of special interests groups representing both food safety advocates and Gulf fishermen.2 Plaintiffs challenge the…