  The Neolithic Revolution began c. 10000 years ago and is characterised by the
ultimate, near complete transition from hunting and gathering to agricultural
food production on land. The Neolithic Revolution is thought to have been
catalysed by a combination of local population pressure, cultural diffusion,
property rights and climate change. We undertake a thought experiment that
examines trends in these key hypothesised catalysts and patters of today to
explore whether society could be on a path towards another paradigm shift in
food production: away from hunting of wild fish towards a transition to mostly
fish farming. We find similar environmental and cultural pressures have driven
the rapid rise of aquaculture, during a period that has now been coined the
Blue Revolution, providing impetus for such a transition in coming decades to
centuries. We also highlight the interacting and often mutually reinforcing
impacts of 1)technological and scientific advancement, 2)environmental
awareness and collective action and 3)globalisation and trade influencing the
trajectory and momentum of the Blue Revolution. We present two qualitative
narratives that broadly fall within two future trajectories: 1)a ubiquitous
aquaculture transition and 20commercial aquaculture and fisheries coexistence.
This scenarios approach aims to encourage logical, forward thinking, and
innovative solutions to complex systems dynamics. Scenario-based thought
experiments are useful to explore large scale questions, increase the
accessibility to a wider readership and ideally catalyse discussion around
proactive governance mechanisms. We argue the future is not fixed and society
now has greater foresight and capacity to choose the workable balance between
fisheries sand aquaculture that supports economic, environmental, cultural and
social objectives through combined planning, policies and management.
