Regulation and Permitting of Standalone and Co-located Open Ocean Aquaculture Facilities

Abstract

Aquaculture will be the dominant producer of global seafood in the 21st Century and the emerging open ocean farming sector must play an important role. Current concepts for utilizing the ocean for aquaculture in national Exclusive Economic Zones, include; standalone structures for growing shellfish and finfish and aquaculture production facilities co-located with other, compatible ocean uses, e.g., offshore oil platforms and wind energy towers. There may also be potential for multiple use of marine space incorporating aquaculture at different trophic levels together with artificial reefs, recreational angling and diving and commercial fishing using static gear. This chapter examines the global status of open ocean aquaculture (OOA), stand alone and co-located projects, in national ocean jurisdictions. Regulatory regimes and experiences permitting OOA shellfish and finfish farming in the United States and shellfish farming in the United Kingdom are shared. Examples of the permitting process from several U.S. states are also cited. Finally, conclusions and recommendations are offered to assist nations in formulating and implementing regulatory systems to effectively facilitate commercial aquaculture development in the open ocean environment.