Marine Aquaculture for Climate Resilience and Climate-Friendly Food Production

Congressional Briefing presented by the American Fisheries Society and NOAA Fisheries, June 29th, 2021

Offshore aquaculture in the U.S. presents a rare opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint from imported seafood, increase domestic seafood supplies and jobs, relieve pressures on wild stocks from increased demand, and increase the resiliency of our food systems to climate change. Today, more than half of the seafood consumed in the U.S. is farm raised and the vast majority is imported, leaving a sizable carbon footprint on the way to our tables. Demand for healthy seafood is increasing in the U.S., but capture fisheries are unlikely to sustainably meet the projected future need.

Recent research shows that there is more than enough suitable space to develop sustainable marine aquaculture in the U.S. in a way that aligns with our economic and environmental goals while still allowing multiple uses of our oceans. While not immune to the effects of climate change, ocean-based farming operations generally require less fresh water, land resources, and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions to produce food. Join us to learn how growth of ocean farming of fish, shellfish, and seaweeds in the U.S. can reduce resource pressure and present novel climate change resilience opportunities.