Can the oceans keep up with the Hunt??? Can the oceans keep up with the Hunt??? Copyright 2007 Habitat Media.

Can the oceans keep Can the oceans keep upup with the Hunt??? with the Hunt???

Copyright 2007 Habitat Media Copyright 2007 Habitat Media

Open Ocean AquacultureOpen Ocean Aquaculture

Laura ThurmanLaura Thurman

Josh TobiasJosh Tobias

Will PittWill Pitt

OPEN OCEAN AQUACULTURE

BY

LAURA THURMAN

JOSH TOBIAS

AND NONE OTHER THAN

WILL PITT

Our StanceOur Stance

It is clear that open ocean aquaculture can It is clear that open ocean aquaculture can be an effective option to reduce the be an effective option to reduce the nation's dependence on seafood imports, nation's dependence on seafood imports, provide jobs for economically depressed provide jobs for economically depressed coastal communities, and coastal communities, and meet the growing consumer demand for safe, healthy seafood.

What is Open Ocean What is Open Ocean Aquaculture? Aquaculture?

• Open Ocean Aquaculture is broadly defined as the Open Ocean Aquaculture is broadly defined as the rearing of marine organisms under controlled conditions in rearing of marine organisms under controlled conditions in exposed, high-energy ocean environments beyond exposed, high-energy ocean environments beyond significant coastal influence.significant coastal influence.

• Activities are located at a considerable distance from shore Activities are located at a considerable distance from shore and are open to the natural ocean elements from all sides.and are open to the natural ocean elements from all sides.

Facilities consist of systems (e.g., cages, net-pens, Facilities consist of systems (e.g., cages, net-pens, longline arrays) that can be free-floating, secured to longline arrays) that can be free-floating, secured to a structure, moored to the ocean bottom, or towed a structure, moored to the ocean bottom, or towed by a vessel.by a vessel.

Cage mounted autonomous feeding systems have been developed that can operate both at the surface and submerged.

• ABC Special on Open Ocean AquacultABC Special on Open Ocean Aquacultureure

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Choosing appropriate species and culture Choosing appropriate species and culture techniquestechniques– The following must be identifiedThe following must be identified

• Species selectionSpecies selection

• Egg/larval productionEgg/larval production

• Nutritional/dietary requirementsNutritional/dietary requirements

species and culture techniquesspecies and culture techniques

• Halibut, haddock, cod, flounder, blue mussels, mutton, snapper, Halibut, haddock, cod, flounder, blue mussels, mutton, snapper, cobia, yellowtail snapper, amberjack, corvina, mahimahi, red cobia, yellowtail snapper, amberjack, corvina, mahimahi, red drum, tuna, striped bass, and other species.drum, tuna, striped bass, and other species.

• Other research topics being investigated:Other research topics being investigated:– Hatchery culture technologies; designs for automated feeders; culture Hatchery culture technologies; designs for automated feeders; culture

of new species; identification and control of diseases; development of of new species; identification and control of diseases; development of cages and husbandry technology through rough waters; alternative cages and husbandry technology through rough waters; alternative food sources; nutrition requirements; development of environmental food sources; nutrition requirements; development of environmental monitoring technology etc…monitoring technology etc…

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Obtaining sufficient start-up capital Obtaining sufficient start-up capital investmentinvestment

• New and developmental technology, the risk of uncertainty New and developmental technology, the risk of uncertainty associated with operating in exposed open ocean locations, lack of associated with operating in exposed open ocean locations, lack of operational experience, and high capital start up costs make operational experience, and high capital start up costs make estimating profitablity and securing financing difficult for new OOA estimating profitablity and securing financing difficult for new OOA companies.companies.

• High maintenance costs b/c of offshore locationHigh maintenance costs b/c of offshore location• Proponents say that without some form of long-term leasing of Proponents say that without some form of long-term leasing of

water surface, water column, and seabed, OOA will have significant water surface, water column, and seabed, OOA will have significant problems in securing capital from traditional funding sources, problems in securing capital from traditional funding sources, insurance, insurance,

(refer to National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007)(refer to National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007)– For development to occur one must accept that open ocean aquaculture For development to occur one must accept that open ocean aquaculture

is “big science” along the lines of atomic/nuclear physics researchis “big science” along the lines of atomic/nuclear physics research

• Seeking and promoting partnerships with other industriesSeeking and promoting partnerships with other industries

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Remaining competitive in an Remaining competitive in an international marketinternational market

•Dependable air freight has allowed Dependable air freight has allowed aquaculture operations to market globallyaquaculture operations to market globally

• 81% of the seafood consumed in America is 81% of the seafood consumed in America is imported.imported.

• 40% of those imports are farmed.40% of those imports are farmed.• Can the U.S OOA operations produce their product at prices Can the U.S OOA operations produce their product at prices

competitive with foreign aquaculture?competitive with foreign aquaculture?

• U.S. marine aquaculture is a mere 1.5% of U.S. seafood supply.U.S. marine aquaculture is a mere 1.5% of U.S. seafood supply.

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Designing and constructing facilities Designing and constructing facilities able to withstand the open ocean able to withstand the open ocean marine environmentmarine environment

– Systems have been developed to withstand Systems have been developed to withstand unpredictable wave conditions such as cages that unpredictable wave conditions such as cages that do not deform under current and wave loads, do not deform under current and wave loads, submersible cages, and single –point moorings.submersible cages, and single –point moorings.

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Evaluating social and economic Evaluating social and economic impactsimpacts– Little evidence provided of economic Little evidence provided of economic

benefitsbenefits– Could hurt the local fishermanCould hurt the local fisherman– AlaskaAlaska– Could lower prices Could lower prices

MAJOR CHALLENGESMAJOR CHALLENGESto open ocean aquaculture to open ocean aquaculture

developmentdevelopment

• Addressing potential environmental Addressing potential environmental impactsimpacts

•Similar but fewer problems than that of Similar but fewer problems than that of nearshorenearshore

•Depends on technique, location, size/scale, Depends on technique, location, size/scale, speciesspecies

Can the Oceans keep up with Can the Oceans keep up with the Hunt? the Hunt? 2of32of3

Why why why why whY???Why why why why whY???

• The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), an agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, is working to enhance/increase domestic seafood supply to meet the growing demand for all seafood products. Currently, over 80% of the seafood Americans consume is imported, and at least half of those imports are farmed seafood. Additional U.S. aquaculture can help the nation reduce its $8 billion seafood trade deficit, provide additional jobs and revenue for coastal communities, and meet the growing consumer demand for safe, healthy seafood.

Why why why why whY???Why why why why whY???

• Right now, most U.S. marine aquaculture products come from shellfish, which are grown onshore or in coastal areas. However, new technology and equipment, and the promising results of open ocean aquaculture demonstration projects in state waters, are leading to opportunities for seafood farming further from the coast, in federal waters three to 200 miles off shore. The federal waters of the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone cover 3.4 million square miles of ocean and hold promise for this new type of aquaculture.

Highlighted in blue in the map above, the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone ~ also known as federal waters ~ covers 3.4 million square miles of ocean. [U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy map]

Why why why why whY???Why why why why whY???

• While there are many potential benefits to offshore aquaculture, there are also barriers blocking the expansion of aquaculture into federal waters. Currently, there is no clear authority for the permitting of offshore aquaculture in federal waters. To address this challenge, the Administration will propose the National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007 early in the 110th Congress. If enacted, the Act will establish the legal framework regarding permits, enforcement, and monitoring of aquaculture in federal waters.

The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007

• Specifically, the bill will: – • Authorize the Secretary of Commerce to issue offshore

aquaculture permits. – • Require the Secretary of Commerce to establish

environmental requirements. – • Require the Secretary of Commerce to work with other

federal agencies to develop and implement a streamlined and coordinated permitting process for offshore aquaculture.

– • Exempt permitted offshore aquaculture from fishing regulations that restrict size, season and harvest methods.

– • Authorize the establishment of a research and development program for marine aquaculture.

– • Authorize funding to carry out the Act and provide for enforcement of the Act.

The National Offshore Aquaculture Act of 2007

• The 2007 proposal includes requirements to ensure that offshore aquaculture proceeds in an environmentally responsible manner that is consistent with stated policy to protect wild stocks and the quality of marine ecosystems and is compatible with other uses of the marine

environment. • the proposal will provide the necessary regulatory certainty

to facilitate expansion of aquaculture in federal waters, where there is significant potential for development of the

U.S. aquaculture industry.

RESPONSIBLE RESPONSIBLE AQUACULTUREAQUACULTURE• the most immediate challenge is to establish

clear rules to allow this type of aquaculture and, ultimately, allow the nation to take advantage of this new opportunity for seafood production in federal waters. At the same time, the federal government must ensure that human health, the marine environment, and wild stocks are

protected.

THANK YOU FOR YOU TIME

Based on demand and population growth Based on demand and population growth projections in the United States, the projections in the United States, the projected domestic seafood gap in 2025 is 2-projected domestic seafood gap in 2025 is 2-4 million tons4 million tons