Mapping the global potential for marine aquaculture

Abstract

Marine aquaculture presents an opportunity for increasing seafood production in the face of growing demand for marine protein and limited scope for expanding wild fishery harvests. However, the global capacity for increased aquaculture production from the ocean and the relative productivity potential across countries are unknown. Here, we map the biological production potential for marine aquaculture across the globe using an innovative approach that draws from physiology, allometry and growth theory. Even after applying substantial constraints based on existing ocean uses and limitations, we find vast areas in nearly every coastal country that are suitable for aquaculture. The development potential far exceeds the space required to meet foreseeable seafood demand; indeed, the current total landings of all wild-capture fisheries could be produced using less than 0.015% of the global ocean area. This analysis demonstrates that suitable space is unlikely to limit marine aquaculture development and highlights the role that other factors, such as economics and governance, play in shaping growth trajectories. We suggest that the vast amount of space suitable for marine aquaculture presents an opportunity for countries to develop aquaculture in a way that aligns with their economic, environmental and social objectives.

State of the Art and Challenges for Offshore Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA)

“…(Gentry et al, 2017;Oyinlola et al, 2018). In general, the stakeholders that operate offshore contrast significantly to those in nearshore areas (Krause et al, 2011;Krause and Mikkelsen, 2017).…”

“…Situating aquaculture even further offshore may reduce environmental impacts and stakeholder conflicts, which recur in coastal systems, and allow expansion of the operations to enable large-scale growth in this sector (Corbin, 2007;Troell et al, 2009;Gentry et al, 2017). Suitable sea area is currently not a limiting factor for expanding farming offshore, but is more related to economics and finding sustainable feeds, and large-scale system designs.…”

The Potential for ‘Next-Generation’, Microalgae-Based Feed Ingredients for Salmonid Aquaculture in Context of the Blue Revolution

“…This firmly secures aquaculture's position in the blue economy as the most efficient use of resources for global food production. Gentry et al [2] reported that a small fraction of coastal ocean waters (0.015%), about the size of Lake Michigan, specifically selected for sustainable aquaculture (excluding areas that interfere with shipping lanes, ocean oil extraction or marine protected areas) is required to exceed current demand for seafood by 100-fold. For the first time in history, global aquaculture production exceeded beef production in 2011 and in 2014 farmed aquatic production was valued at $160 billion USD (74 million metric tons [mmt]) and will exceed $240 billion USD by 2022.…”

Karakteristik Dan Kesesuaian Perairan Untuk Budidaya Rumput Laut Di Kabupaten Kepulauan Sangihe, Sulawesi Utara

“…Hal ini memerlukan penyesuaian fokus pembangunan melalui pemanfaatan potensi sumberdaya laut dan pesisir berupa budidaya laut atau marikultur. Marikultur memberikan kesempatan untuk peningkatan produksi makanan dari laut seiring dengan meningkatnya permintaan akan protein dari laut dan terbatasnya hasil perikanan tangkap (Gentry et al, 2017).…”