Protected Species and Marine Aquaculture Interactions

turtles and seabirds from marine aquaculture structures and activities. Yet it is unclear
if this is because farms are relatively benign and pose little risk, or because the
number and density of farms is so low that the detection level for harmful interactions
is also very small.
Further research into the mechanisms behind entanglement and other harmful
interactions would provide valuable insight into how protected species might react to
marine aquaculture gear. More in-depth analysis to discern which protected species
are most prone to entanglement in and collision with fishery gear and in other marine
industry sectors may focus efforts to avoid interactions with commercial aquaculture
sites. A more technical consideration of longline mussel aquaculture gear,
such as tension strength analysis for backbone lines, will provide useful information
for understanding how protected species may interact with farm gear and lead to
effective modifications to decrease harmful interactions. Research to better understand
how marine species perceive farm structures visually and acoustically will likewise
aid in developing strategies to avoid harm.
Although the last decade has seen an increase in the amount of information available
about how protected species may be affected by off shore marine aquaculture gear,
there are still many unanswered questions and uncertainty. There remains an overall a
general lack of scientific reporting on entanglement frequency and severity of resulting
injuries, mortality rates associated with interactions, effective deterrent methods, and
technological innovation to reduce interactions and decrease harm if contact occurs.
Importantly, negative data—scientifically collected data reflecting the lack of interactions
with protected species—is also lacking. This makes it difficult to know if the
paucity of reported incidents is due to low numbers of interactions or failure to detect
and report them. However, the growth of the aquaculture industry worldwide is drawing
attention to the potential environmental impacts of offshore aquaculture, including
impacts to protected species. Spatial planning to inform siting and other mitigation
will help resolve conflicts as the marine aquaculture industry grows.
This assessment is useful for guiding the regulatory process of protected species
consultations to meet the goals of advancing aquaculture in the open ocean while
still meeting legislative mandates for protected species. In addition to summarizing
what is known and providing a state of science analysis, the risk assessment and
knowledge gaps highlight the greatest potentials for harmful interactions between
aquaculture and protected species, identify critical areas of research, and inform decisions
about collaborative projects to further knowledge and protect imperiled
species. The rising world population is becoming more reliant on aquaculture for
food production. In the United States, the regulatory process for permitting offshore
aquaculture facilities is moving forward and industry growth is expected. Domestic
production of seafood can aid in decreasing U. S. reliance on imported products,
provide jobs and food security, and meet the rising demand for seafood. Every effort
should be made to ensure that industry growth occurs within a framework of environmental
responsibility and ocean stewardship.
Protected Species & Mussel longline aquaculture interactions | 39