Identifying suitable offshore aquaculture areas requires integrating physical, ecological, and logistical criteria within a spatially explicit framework. This preliminary analysis evaluates seasonal variation in two potential offshore aquaculture areas off Southeast Florida—Site 1 and Site 2—using satellite-derived oceanographic data and numerical model outputs. Additional sites are being studied in the East Coast of Florida and will also be presented and discussed.
The region is strongly influenced by the Florida Current, the strong western boundary current of the Gulf Stream system, which shapes hydrodynamic exposure and environmental conditions throughout the study area. Oceanographic variables, including chlorophyll-a concentration, current velocity, sea-surface temperature, and bathymetry, were analyzed to characterize the environmental setting of each site, and suitability for commercial operations.
To complement these spatial assessments, a seasonal time-series analysis of modeled current velocities (uo, vo) was conducted for both locations. Monthly and seasonal patterns demonstrated a pronounced seasonal cycle, with enhanced current speeds during summer and autumn in Site 2 and more moderate, stable flow conditions throughout the year in Site 1. Anomaly analyses confirmed strong interannual variability in Site 2 driven by the Florida Current, whereas Site 1 displayed a more sheltered hydrodynamic regime with lower seasonal amplitudes.
These findings underscore the need to incorporate hydrodynamic exposure, bathymetric constraints, ecological gradients, and seasonal current behavior into multispatial, multi-criteria site-selection frameworks for offshore aquaculture development in Florida and elsewhere in the U.S. Results of this study will additionally augment the required meta ocean data for improved offshore aquaculture siting such as is being performed by NOAA.