Protected Species and Marine Aquaculture Interactions

tory agencies may look to information on interactions between protected species and
fishery (wild capture) gear to inform decision making. Marine megafauna, including
marine mammals, sea turtles, seabirds and sharks, are known to interact directly with
many types of marine gear, including fishery gear. Since some fishery gears, or components
of the gear, are similar or analogous to aquaculture gear, it may be appropriate in
certain instances to draw similarities between gear types as proxies, when determining
relative risks to marine mammals to inform regulatory and management decisions
with respect to aquaculture. For this reason, the assessment also includes a review of
research on fishery gear interactions with protected species, for the purpose of assessing
which lessons learned may be applicable to aquaculture gear.
Preventative measures such as spatial planning to inform siting may help avoid
or resolve potential conflicts as the marine aquaculture industry grows. Further research
into the mechanisms behind entanglement and other harmful interactions
will provide valuable insight into how protected species react to marine aquaculture
gear. 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. More in-depth analysis to discern which protected
spe cies are most prone to entanglement in or collision with aquaculture gear
and other marine industries will enhance current efforts to avoid interactions.
The growth of the aquaculture industry in the U. S. and worldwide has drawn
attention to the potential environmental impacts of offshore aquaculture, including
impacts to protected species. As the scope of aquaculture activities increases in the
open ocean, it is important to make decisions about marine aquaculture within an
ecological context. 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 this foreseeable industry growth
occurs within a framework of environmental responsibility and ocean stewardship.
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