4 ms·

I'd imagine there would be some impact on the native ecosystem. You can't prevent the seed from escaping the aquafarm and (potentially invasive) oysters and kel

I'd imagine there would be some impact on the native ecosystem. You can't prevent the seed from escaping the aquafarm and (potentially invasive) oysters and kelps growing where they normally would not, displacing local species. That said.. the small footprint of these farms means you could probably localize this impact, or pick areas that are at a lower risk for farming. Potentially the biggest hurdle here would be regulatory issues to prevent the above issues from happening without stifling the industry. Super interesting subject.

jacobolus 11y ago
If there are many thousands of edible sea plants, maybe plants and shellfish local to the region could be used. Seems like you could potentially find places where the farms would do more good than harm, even ignoring the food production aspect: They claimed that the farms make good habitats for various types of marine life, serve as effective storm breaks, etc. I wonder if they might even be able to improve local ocean chemistry in some cases (absorbing fertilizer runoff, stabilizing pH, etc.). It will take significant practical experience and study to tease out all the effects and figure out the most sustainable techniques. At any rate, it’s likely better than most of the existing fish farms in the ocean. How are those currently regulated?
- jmknoll 11y ago
  The author begins to address one of your questions in the article, although I would like to see this subject treated in a little bit more depth. "Even the best land-based farms pollute, sending nitrogen into our waterways, so we use our kelp to capture that nitrogen, turn it into liquid fertilizers, and send it back to organic farmers to grow their wonderful vegetables. When the nitrogen then runs back into Long Island Sound, we capture it again." It seems like, at least in theory, these types of farms can also help limit the damage caused by land-based human activity to coastal ecosystems.
  - samstave 11y ago
    What does the kelp grow on? Ropes? Or does it need to grow up from the sea bed?
- justinclift 11y ago
  As a funny thought, remember the article a while back pointing out party drugs are detectable in downstream water sources from large populations? That could make for some interesting secondary food stuff harvesting. :D
monk_e_boy 11y ago
Oysters and kelp are already everywhere. The sea has currents that transport everything that is in the sea everywhere. Stuff grows when it reaches a suitable climate.
- JBReefer 11y ago
  Oysters were once so common in New York Harbour that they're on our flag.
  - goldbrick 11y ago
    What? The state flag or the city flag? I just double checked and I don't see what you're talking about.
    - JBReefer 11y ago
      I am wrong! It's a beaver [0], for the beaver trade that built the port. Still, the Lenape word for "Queens" is "island of sea shells", and they're a huge part of New York food history [1]! [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City [1] http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/06/01/history-half-shell-intertwined-story-new-york-city-and-its-oysters http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/06/01/history-half-shell-inter...

jacobolus 11y ago

If there are many thousands of edible sea plants, maybe plants and shellfish local to the region could be used. Seems like you could potentially find places where the farms would do more good than harm, even ignoring the food production aspect: They claimed that the farms make good habitats for various types of marine life, serve as effective storm breaks, etc. I wonder if they might even be able to improve local ocean chemistry in some cases (absorbing fertilizer runoff, stabilizing pH, etc.). It will take significant practical experience and study to tease out all the effects and figure out the most sustainable techniques. At any rate, it’s likely better than most of the existing fish farms in the ocean. How are those currently regulated?

jmknoll 11y ago
The author begins to address one of your questions in the article, although I would like to see this subject treated in a little bit more depth. "Even the best land-based farms pollute, sending nitrogen into our waterways, so we use our kelp to capture that nitrogen, turn it into liquid fertilizers, and send it back to organic farmers to grow their wonderful vegetables. When the nitrogen then runs back into Long Island Sound, we capture it again." It seems like, at least in theory, these types of farms can also help limit the damage caused by land-based human activity to coastal ecosystems.
- samstave 11y ago
  What does the kelp grow on? Ropes? Or does it need to grow up from the sea bed?
justinclift 11y ago
As a funny thought, remember the article a while back pointing out party drugs are detectable in downstream water sources from large populations? That could make for some interesting secondary food stuff harvesting. :D

monk_e_boy 11y ago

Oysters and kelp are already everywhere. The sea has currents that transport everything that is in the sea everywhere. Stuff grows when it reaches a suitable climate.

JBReefer 11y ago
Oysters were once so common in New York Harbour that they're on our flag.
- goldbrick 11y ago
  What? The state flag or the city flag? I just double checked and I don't see what you're talking about.
  - JBReefer 11y ago
    I am wrong! It's a beaver [0], for the beaver trade that built the port. Still, the Lenape word for "Queens" is "island of sea shells", and they're a huge part of New York food history [1]! [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flags_of_New_York_City [1] http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/06/01/history-half-shell-intertwined-story-new-york-city-and-its-oysters http://www.nypl.org/blog/2011/06/01/history-half-shell-inter...