Off-shore systems will help ensure U.S. aquaculture future

Aquaculture has always been about control—control over the production environment, control over feed quality and other inputs, and ultimately control over product quality and availability. While we may be proud of our technical ability to raise fish in what might appear to be otherwise hostile environments, the cultural and social landscape has proven in many ways a more difficult hurdle to overcome—a landscape where hostility toward aquaculture often reigns supreme.

While the number of aquaculture facilities based at locations outside the U.S. has proliferated at a brisk pace, growth of U.S.-based aquaculture has proceeded more slowly. Those of us located here have heard all of the reasons for this disparity. Federal and local regulations, resource or infrastructure scarcity, and land and water prices are invariably part of the list.

Included at or near the top of the list is NIMBY, also known as "Not in my backyard." This is a phenomenon not exclusive to aquaculture, but is seen in all forms of development where there is some perceived threat (real or imagined) in minds of resident individuals, businesses, bureaucrats, or politicians. Nowadays, environmental concerns ("Our water supply will suffer.") or aesthetic concerns ("Why should I be forced to look at this facility every day?") are most often expressed by NIMBYists about proposed aquaculture development.

As were many other long-time aquaculturists and aquaculture proponents, I was rather stunned when detractors gained momentum over the years with environmental arguments. While the aquaculture philosophy is about control, it has also been about a concern for the environment—an answer to the horrors of overfishing—and a real answer to the problems of hunger and malnutrition. I have always been proud to claim allegiance to and membership in the aquaculture community.

I have no doubt that land-based aquaculture development in the U.S. will flourish, but at a pace that will continue to lag the rest of the world. However, I see the greatest opportunity in ocean-based systems, especially newer-technology submerged systems. Here’s why.

Developers of these systems have addressed some of the major concerns of aquaculture opponents, not the least of which is the NIMBY syndrome. Submerged ocean-based systems are much less vulnerable to the NIMBY argument. In this case, out-of-sight and out-of-mind were never more true.

Second, these systems, for the most part, do not restrict or impede shipping, boating, or other activities at the surface. They are anchored at a specific location, but may require only enough space at the surface for a marker buoy.

Third, because they are submerged, they are much less vulnerable to severe and damaging weather systems such as hurricanes and typhoons. Storm-ravaged saltwater production systems could become a thing of the past.

Fourth, because of their distance from shorelines, submerged systems present a much diminished threat to biologically sensitive shoreline habitats. Conversely, their distance from shore makes them less vulnerable to land-based pollution—a real potential boost for product quality. New techniques to prevent escape will enhance their environmental integrity as well.

Finally, saltwater species offer the greatest untapped potential for aquaculture development here in the U.S. Submerged systems are a reasonable alternative for safe, productive, unobtrusive, and unfettered development of our available marine resources.

As I have mentioned in my column in the past, our trade deficit in fisheries products is second only to petroleum. This staggering fact must be thoughtfully addressed. This is no less an issue of national security than our dependence on foreign oil! What could possibly be more important than the security of our food supply?

The federal government appreciates this problem and could lend a hand by creating aquaculture enterprises zones at certain key locations within our territorial waters. Initiatives such as this would not only be welcomed by the aquaculture community, but I believe would reap benefits for both the public sector and private sector.

As we travel into the 21st century, aquaculture must necessarily look beyond our shorelines for growth. I have no doubt that amazing and highly productive technologies will emerge. At the same time (if developed and managed properly), they will be viewed in a positive light by environmentalists and aquaculturists alike.

Submerged aquaculture systems mark the forefront of that effort, and will help usher in a new era of less dependence on foreign sources of high-quality fisheries products.

by Bill Manci
Senior Biologist and Certified Fisheries Professional
Fisheries Technology Associates, Inc.