HOME ALPINE ATHLETICS LIFE AT SHIP CONTACT BREADCRUMB Home New study finds offshore aquaculture has low environmental impact NEW STUDY FINDS OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE HAS LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT August 07, 2019 By admin MIAMI—A new study led by scientists at the University of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science found minimal environmental impacts to the surrounding waters from a major commercial fish-farming operation off the coast of Panama. Researchers collected water samples at one upstream and three downstream locations from the submerged fish cages to investigate if there was significant or cumulative impacts resulting from locating fish farms offshore. Sediment samples were also collected to evaluate the effects of the aquaculture facility on the seafloor. The data revealed that only small amounts of nutrients are released from the farm and demonstrated that when appropriately sited, commercially scaled offshore aquaculture installations have the potential to operate in a way that produces a relatively small pollution footprint. The results also showed that any impacts from offshore fish farming are minimal compared to all other forms of animal protein production for human consumption. “We must produce 30 million metric tons of seafood to keep up with human population growth and increasing consumption of seafood – and the open ocean appears to be the best if not the only environment that would allow for this expansion,” said the study’s lead author Aaron Welch, Ph.D. who conducted the study while a graduate student at the UM Rosenstiel School and UM Abess Center. “Showing that this can be done without incurring in a large footprint is something we will all benefit from. It’s a very relevant milestone to assist in developing offshore aquaculture in the Unites States.” Tags Aquaculture LOG IN or REGISTER to post comments SEARCH Search USER ACCOUNT MENU LOG IN THE CHINCOTEAGUE BAY FIELD STATION Shippensburg University is proud to offer opportunities for students to enhance their learning through field studies in a range of disciplines. A unique cooperative agreement between Shippensburg University and other Colleges and Universities, allows Ship to offer educational, READ MORE SOCIAL MEDIA FACEBOOK TWITTER BEHANCE YOUTUBE INSTAGRAM VIMEO ABOUT US Marine Science is the study of the ocean, its ecosystems and its life forms as well as the study of coastal environments, oceanic currents and the sea floor. Marine Science also known as Oceanology. Related Journals of Marine Science. MAIN NAVIGATION HOME ALPINE ATHLETICS LIFE AT SHIP CONTACT