Mapping the Global Potential for Marine Aquaculture

Marine aquaculture presents an opportunity for increasing seafood production in the face of both growing demand for marine protein and limited scope for expanding harvest of wild fisheries. Unknown, however, is the global capacity for increased aquaculture production from the ocean or the relative productivity potential across countries. Here, we use an innovative approach to calculate and map potential marine aquaculture production, drawing from physiology, allometry, and growth theory. Even after applying substantial constraints based on existing ocean uses, we find vast areas in nearly every coastal country that are suitable for aquaculture. Development potential far exceeds the space required to meet foreseeable seafood demand; indeed, current total landings of all wild capture fisheries could be produced using less than 0.015% of global ocean area. This analysis demonstrates that suitable space is unlikely to limit marine aquaculture development, and that considerable flexibility exists to site farms in a way that aligns with economic, environmental, and social objectives. In an era shaped by a growing population and environmental uncertainty, sustainable marine aquaculture has widespread potential to enhance global food supplies.