A new technical guide analyzes marine aquaculture gear types for resource managers, decision makers and aquaculturists.
To meet the growing demand for domestic seafood, NOAA is supporting the expansion of the US aquaculture industry. This means that aquaculture gear, such as shellfish cages, fish netpens, and kelp long lines, must be permitted to comply with relevant regulations and ensure sustainability. Resource managers play a key role in this by reviewing aquaculture projects prior to authorization for installation. To support this, scientists at NOAA Fisheries released a new technical guide on aquaculture gear
The Technical Guide to Marine Aquaculture Gear identifies gear suited for different types of marine aquaculture, outlining relevant advantages and disadvantages, and considerations for installation, maintenance, and harvest. Illustrations of gear types, glossaries of key terms, and descriptions of shellfish, seaweed, and finfish species provide a comprehensive overview. Management considerations vary by farm. This gear guide aims to provide a baseline understanding to inform the review and permitting of aquaculture farms around the country. The scale of a farm, species cultivated, environmental conditions, and regional practices are all factors in the review process.
This guide shows how NOAA is equipping scientists and managers with the latest technologies, as well as tried and true methods. It is also a great resource for beginning aquaculturists.
Download:
Technical Guide to Marine Aquaculture Gear