From The Fish Site:
New analysis shows the global potential of seaweed and shellfish to improve ocean health, provide food, and support livelihoods.
The first ever global spatial guidance for potential sustainable shellfish and seaweed farming has been published, authored by scientists from The Nature Conservancy and the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
Contrary to certain viewpoints, a growing body of evidence indicates that commercial shellfish and seaweed aquaculture – when done well – can actually have a positive effect on the surrounding environment, by removing nutrients from polluted waterbodies and providing habitat for commercially important fish and invertebrates, while also providing food and jobs.
The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners have just published a new analysis in the scientific journal PLOS One that identifies the highest-opportunity regions around the world for the development of commercial shellfish and seaweed aquaculture to aid in ocean ecosystem recovery, while providing economic and social benefit.
The study is the first of its kind in examining the global potential for this concept – which we like to refer to as “restorative aquaculture”. The collaboration is between scientists at TNC, NOAA’s National Ocean Service National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) and the University of Adelaide, Australia. It brings together global-scale spatial datasets representing key environmental, socioeconomic and human health considerations....
