Mapping the global potential for marine aquaculture.

Area of Science:

• Marine biology
• Aquaculture science
• Oceanography

Background:

• Growing global demand for seafood protein necessitates sustainable production increases.
• Wild fishery harvests face limitations, making marine aquaculture a key alternative.
• Understanding global marine aquaculture capacity is crucial for future food security.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map the global biological production potential for marine aquaculture.
• To assess the suitability of ocean areas for aquaculture development.
• To determine if space limitations will hinder future marine aquaculture growth.

Main Methods:

• Utilized an innovative approach integrating physiology, allometry, and growth theory.
• Applied substantial constraints based on existing ocean uses and limitations.
• Mapped suitable areas for marine aquaculture across the globe.

Main Results:

• Vast ocean areas in nearly every coastal country are suitable for marine aquaculture.
• The identified development potential significantly exceeds foreseeable seafood demand.
• Producing current global wild-capture fisheries yields requires less than 0.015% of the ocean area.

Conclusions:

• Suitable ocean space is unlikely to be a limiting factor for marine aquaculture development.
• Economic and governance factors are critical for shaping aquaculture growth.
• Abundant suitable space offers opportunities for countries to align aquaculture with economic, environmental, and social goals.