This presentation responds to Belton, et al.’s 2020 besmirching of offshore aquaculture as supported by “crisis narratives” that “combine Malthusian anxiety with cornucopian techno-futurism, but disregard who would have access to the food produced”.
Despite deniers, the planet is indeed in crisis. W e truly should be anxious . We desperately need novel technologies and systems ; if that’s “techno-futurism”, then let’s embrace it . And rather than “disregard” consumers , we should have the highest regard for the power of the marketplace to drive these essential disruptions, and improve people’s lives . Those who would stand knee-deep in a freshwater fishpond and defend the status quo, or who would blithely and blindly wish the world worked differently, put our planet, and all people, in peril.
Expansion of offshore aquaculture offers potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by supplanting terrestrial livestock production ; as well as lowering pressure for land-conversion and limited freshwater resources; mitigating ocean acidification; providing food for a growing planet, as well as feed, fertilizers and fuels; and possibly providing potential for long-term carbon capture and storage.
The challenges that we face – as a global community – can not be resolved through promoting only ‘ one pure’ form of aquaculture . Salinity should not be the sole rubric: production efficiencies and global ecological impacts should guide our work. We need to c ounter consumer pre dilections for land animal proteins by harnessing the power of their preferences . As an alternative to terrestrial meats, o ffering the umami of marine-sourced products is more likely to succeed than compelling commoners to only eat carp.
This presentation will also review Ocean Era ’s recent R&D work, in the context of the defining environmental imperatives of our time . We are developing a demonstration array for offshore macroalgae culture , and refining culture methods and diets for kyphosids (Kyphosus vaigiensis), mahimahi (Coryphaena hippurus) , and kampachi (Seriola rivoliana). We are pioneering the permitting process in U.S. Federal waters for a demonstration net pen array off Sarasota, FL, in the Gulf of Mexico. We are also applying for the permits in Hawai’i State waters for a commercial fish and macroalgae co-culture operation offshore of ‘Ewa Beach, Oahu.
The world desperately needs more seafood, be it from offshore aquaculture, marine RAS, or freshwater systems. We do ourselves, our profession and our planet a grave disservice by slinging mud at each other’s efforts.