{"id":8966,"date":"2024-09-23T15:29:56","date_gmt":"2024-09-23T19:29:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/?p=8966"},"modified":"2025-12-03T16:58:47","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T20:58:47","slug":"a-look-at-science-technology-and-artificial-intelligence-for-sustainable-aquaculture","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.edf.org\/edfish\/2024\/09\/23\/a-look-at-science-technology-and-artificial-intelligence-for-sustainable-aquaculture\/","title":{"rendered":"A Look at Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence for Sustainable Aquaculture\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

We\u2019ve come to our final blog in our series on sustainable aquaculture for EDFish. Now that we\u2019ve covered <\/span>aquaculture feed<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>escapes<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>diseases<\/span><\/a>, we\u2019ll wrap up the discussion with a look at technology\u2019s role in sustainable aquaculture. With appropriate investment and incentives, ocean farming technologies and innovations could address sustainability risks for farming seafood in U.S. federal waters, also known as \u201copen ocean aquaculture.\u201d <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To mitigate risks, the U.S. open ocean aquaculture industry needs a clear understanding of the potential role of technology, with targeted research and development (R&D) efforts to accelerate progress toward sustainability. This must be paired with a robust regulatory fra<\/span>mework to guide investments in technology and to fill gaps where current technologies fall short of mandated environmental protections. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More information can be found in EDF’s white paper “Sustainability Considerations for the Expansion of US Open Ocean Aquaculture: Unleashing Advances in Science, Technology, and Artificial Intelligence to Support Sustainable Open Ocean Aquaculture in the US<\/a>.”<\/p>\n

What are the risks?<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Open ocean aquaculture entails unique sustainability and logistical challenges. Due to the open ocean environment\u2019s deeper waters and stronger waves, farm infrastructure is more difficult to install and faces more wear and damage, creating additional maintenance needs and risk of animals escaping. <\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Visiting farms for maintenance, inspection, or health services requires longer trips in potentially rough conditions. Additionally, open ocean aquaculture must contend with sustainability challenges common to both aquaculture and terrestrial agriculture, such as responsibly sourcing feed as well as detecting and treating diseases.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Aquaculture research and development funding lags behind <\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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AI and machine learning are being implemented in aquaculture by companies such as Tidal.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Although aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production sector in the world, U.S. federal research investment has been modest. From 1990 to 2015, the U.S. government spent <\/span>$1.04 billion on aquaculture research and development<\/span><\/a>, compared to $41 billion for terrestrial agriculture. Similarly, philanthropists and global grantmakers spent <\/span>less than one tenth on aquaculture<\/span><\/a> as they did for fisheries from 2016-2021. This is a major missed opportunity: researchers calculated a 37-fold rate of return on federal aquaculture research and development funding since 2000.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Minimizing risks via technology: Promising areas of innovation<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Improving feed sustainability and efficiency. <\/span><\/b>Researchers and industry are developing precision formulas and novel ingredients to deliver optimal nutrition with minimal environmental impact. But, more funding and research are needed to bring these innovations to scale. Precision genetics has improved farmed species\u2019 feed conversion efficiency, and these efforts could be enhanced to promote other desired traits like disease resistance or sterility.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Optimizing farm design and materials to reduce costs and minimize escapes. <\/span><\/b>Sophisticated modeling systems and NOAA\u2019s Atlases of Aquaculture Opportunity Areas (AOAs) enable aquaculture applicants to site farms to reduce water quality impacts. New infrastructure designs and materials<\/span>,<\/span> such as pens that can be submerged during inclement weather and predator-proof mesh fibers<\/span>,<\/span> reduce impacts on ocean habitat, increase durability, and reduce escape risks.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Supporting animal health. <\/span><\/b>Innovative research into disease approaches that reduce antibiotic resistance is ripe for further investment and application in more species. Autogenous vaccines that are rapidly developed for facility-specific outbreaks provide targeted and flexible responses for new or evolving pathogens. Scientists are harnessing naturally derived compounds from fish immune systems to quickly eliminate pathogens without developing resistance.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Automating and optimizing ocean farming advancements with artificial intelligence (AI). <\/span><\/b>AI and machine learning algorithms, combined with continuous remote monitoring technologies, have been used to optimize feeding, detect disease early, and spot escapes with minutes. Farmers can use drones and unmanned vehicles to maintain facilities and monitor farm conditions remotely, enabling rapid responses to environmental changes. These technologies save time, money, and emissions-intensive travel to open ocean pens.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Blockchain for traceability. <\/span><\/b>Major seafood companies are increasingly using blockchain technology to trace aquaculture products as they move through supply chains. RFID tags can identify individual fish with information about their origin, farming practices, and transportation history. These key traceability tools enable aquaculture producers to demonstrate responsible sourcing practices. However, a lack of standardized traceability practices currently limits data exchange and interoperability.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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AI-powered Autonomous Feeding Software from Tidal<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Recommendations to advance sustainable US aquaculture<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For federal and academic researchers:<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n