CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING: Marine Aquaculture for Climate Resilience and Climate-Friendly Food Production

On June 29, the American Fisheries Society and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) presented a congressional briefing on Marine Aquaculture for Climate Resilience and Climate-Friendly Food Production.
 
The briefing focused on the benefits of aquaculture, including the ability to reduce our carbon footprint from imported seafood, increase domestic seafood and jobs, relieve pressures on wild stocks that are depleted, and increase the resiliency of our food systems to climate change.
 
Speakers included: Jesse Trushenski, Ph.D., Chief Science Officer, Riverence; Seth Theuerkauf, Ph.D., Science Coordinator, Office of Aquaculture, NOAA National Marine Fisheries Service; Rebecca Gentry, Ph.D., Postdoctoral Scholar, Florida State University; and Donald B. Kent, M.S., President & CEO, Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute.
 
Continue reading below for highlights from the four presentations, or watch the full congressional briefing.

Jesse Trushenski stated we will need 60% more food by 2050, including 60% more animal protein by 2030. More seafood will have to come from aquaculture, with 80% of fish stocks fully exploited or in decline. Aquaculture can fill the growing seafood gap and support fisheries without putting additional pressure on natural resources or a changing climate. Aquaculture is already a thriving food production method worldwide. Today, half of all seafood consumed worldwide is farm-raised. In fact, there is more farmed fish and shellfish produced each year globally than beef. For aquaculture to realize its full potential in the U.S., a clear regulatory policy is needed. Fisheries and aquaculture have co-existed for a long time; aquaculture will complement wild fisheries to meet future population needs.

Seth Theuerkauf stated that we must look at the science that is pointing America toward aquaculture. Aquaculture provides a triple line of environmental sustainability. Twenty percent of animal food production comes from aquaculture, and it is the path forward to addressing the 30-million-ton food supply gap. There needs to be a focus on sustainable growth of all forms of protein. The resource efficiency of all aquaculture is astounding, with bivalves and kelp providing a net positive benefit. Aquaculture can lessen supply chain emissions by cutting down on transportation distances. Through commercial production of seafood, the citing of farms is key and can be achieved with advanced marine spatial analysis. Marine aquaculture is not a climate change silver bullet, but it does provide significant opportunities for increasing our sustainability in food production.

Rebecca Gentry stated that the U.S. has optimal space for a growing marine aquaculture industry. During the spatial planning of aquaculture, one of the three focuses should be on environmental health and where aquaculture will have the lowest impact on environmental health, and, in some cases, even support conservation objectives. Good citing and proper management can mitigate the adverse effects of farms on the surrounding environment. Science-informed citing is the answer to minimizing the impact when determining new farm locations. We already have the data and models, and decision support tools to identify good potential farm locations.

Donald B. Kent stated that Hubbs-SeaWorld has been a leader in aquaculture research and development for the past 30 years, but because of the lack of federal regulatory framework, there is a dramatic inability to transfer research back into the commercial field. Aquaculture farms require the most extensive data set possible, considering all environmental impacts and conflicting military uses. We have the technology, planning tools, and know-how to farm the open ocean. What we need is a defined path through a rigorous legal and regulatory process that already exists. With demand for seafood on the rise, aquaculture production will continue to expand. If the growth of the U.S. aquaculture industry is not allowed to happen, we will displace that growth to other countries, including countries that may have weaker environmental standards.