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AquaSpace: An Ecosystem Approach to Making Space for Sustainable Aquaculture

Published on: 02/04/2015
Research Area(s): Marine Spatial Ecology
Primary Contact(s): suzanne.bricker@noaa.gov

NCCOS joined a recently approved project 'AquaSpace - Ecosystem Approach to making Space for Sustainable Aquaculture,' as part of the European Commission research topic 'Optimizing space availability for European Aquaculture.' The project aims to increase space available for aquaculture within areas of high water quality using the Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (EAA) and Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), which increases  food security and employment opportunities through economic growth. A range of tools to enable effective implementation of EAA and MSP will result the aquaculture sector.

Shellfish farming (oysters, clams, mussels) is the largest single sector of the U.S. marine aquaculture industry and accounts for about two-thirds of total U.S. marine aquaculture production. Credit: NOAA.

Shellfish farming (oysters, clams, mussels) is the largest single sector of the U.S. marine aquaculture industry and accounts for about two-thirds of total U.S. marine aquaculture production. Credit: NOAA.

Recent results concerning siting and water quality benefits of shellfish aquaculture at US sites will broaden the geographic scope of the Aquaspace project, which will apply an NCCOS eutrophication assessment model to several European Union case studies. This transferable approach will help growers and permitting agencies promote the economic stimulation of the aquaculture sector for production of seafood, with an understanding of the coincident improvement of water quality related to shellfish aquaculture.

Aquaspace is part of the larger European Commission program called " Horizon 2020: The EU Framework Program for Research and Innovation." The multi-national team includes collaborations with the aquaculture industry, other stakeholders, and coastal managers and planners in the European Economic Area and beyond.

For more information: Suzanne.Bricker@noaa.gov

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