Marine Aquaculture Production of Unfed Organisms Has Important Opportunities in Future Ecosystem Management

Measures of sustainability are difficult, and must include socio-economic factors as well as environmental assessments.  We evaluated the existing and potential role for expansion of marine aquaculture of unfed organisms using a case study of bi-valve mussel farms in the US and international sectors.  New policy by NOAA fisheries has provided the opportunity for expansion of domestic production and assure assessments of impact consider more broadly the tradeoffs of risks and benefits.  Marine mussels can provide a low trophic, and efficient source of nutrition that contains high quantities of omega-3 fatty acids, and proportionally high yields of protein. To better understand these systems, we provide estimates of water, land, carbon footprints and social-economic factors of selected existing and potential production systems. Our metrics include parameters from job provision, household incomes, and national economic factors in addition to environmental attributes. We evaluated the limitations and potential aspects for future expansion in a framework of harvest and protection of natural ecosystem services. Our results highlighted the potential for increasing domestic production and consumption of safe and nutritious foods, and domestic economic and food stability.