In recent years, federal agencies have taken steps to encourage the expansion of ocean aquaculture in the U nited States . The State of California likewise has sought to advance development of this ocean use . However, project proposals have faced challenges related to potential or real conflict, most notably with existing commercial and recreational fishing activities . These experiences have highlighted the need for a better process for obtaining, appropriately interpreting and integrating information about ongoing fishery uses, and for engaging affected groups, in the aquaculture development process.
We investigated the information needs related to aquaculture development decision-making, with a particular focus on fishery and aquaculture ocean space use needs . Using California's Santa Barbara Channel as a test case , we interviewed commercial and recreational fishery participants, aquaculturists, and relevant state and federal agency staff. We also observed public meetings and other activities related to proposed aquaculture projects. We found that efforts for siting aquaculture projects have relied heavily on the use of geographic information systems (GIS), using data typically collected for other purposes, to map space use. Th is approach has proven useful, especially when considering fixed space uses such as offshore oil and gas production and aquaculture projects. However, these efforts have fallen short in being able to adequately portray the dynamic and variable nature of fishery space use. For example, fisheries landings data have limited utility for aquaculture siting. Further, efforts to o btain more useful data through engagement with fish ery participants has had notable shortcomings , in part due to a fixation on particular places identifiable on a map as opposed to the valued characteristics of the places . T rust in the information and how it is portrayed and integrated into decision-making processes also have been common concerns .
Potential solutions for obtaining and using local, fine- scale fisheries information include 1) engaging knowledgeable, local third parties and/or a liaison to work with and account for needs and values of both sectors , and 2) developing materials that fully and accurately identify and describe regional fisheries along with key contacts who can provide reliable, valid information and facilitate communication with the larger fishing community . Together these can support a process that recogniz es and better accommodates the space needs of both groups while providing agencies with the information necessary for evaluating aquaculture projects and integrating the two activities.