Spatial planning for offshore aquaculture has traditionally focused on identifying ocean space that meets core requirements for farm development while minimizing conflicts and mitigating potential negative impacts. Far less attention has been given to identifying where farming is mostly likely to succeed, particularly in terms of fish growth, production potential, and an eye towards long-term profitability. Viable offshore aquaculture requires the integration of biological, structural, economic, and social considerations. Sites must support the bioenergetic needs of cultured species, accommodate farm infrastructure, provide a feasible economic pathway to profitability, and be acceptable to coastal communities.
To improve understanding of offshore aquaculture opportunities in U.S. waters, we are developing biological threshold-based spatial analytics for candidate finfish species. Using modeled temperature data at multiple depths, we estimated optimal locations for culture by applying established thermal tolerance thresholds for each species. We then generated quantitative suitability metrics that identify locations with the greatest number of days within each species’ optimal thermal range and the fewest days outside of acceptable limits.
The results reveal regional trends in biological suitability, highlight potential priority areas for offshore aquaculture development, and identify key knowledge gaps related to thermal dynamics and species performance offshore. These findings clarify the biological tradeoffs associated with offshore aquaculture and strengthen the foundation for more informed siting and management decisions.