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Farmer NA, Powell JR, Morris JA, Soldevilla MS, Wickliffe LC, Jossart JA, MacKay JK, Randall AL, Bath GE, Ruvelas P, Gray L, Lee J, Piniak W, Garrison L, Hardy R, Hart KM, Sasso C, Stokes L, Riley KL. Modeling protected species distributions and habitats to inform siting and management of pioneering ocean industries: A case study for Gulf of Mexico aquaculture. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0267333. [PMID: 36178939 PMCID: PMC9524655 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0267333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) provides a process that uses spatial data and models to evaluate environmental, social, economic, cultural, and management trade-offs when siting (i.e., strategically locating) ocean industries. Aquaculture is the fastest-growing food sector in the world. The United States (U.S.) has substantial opportunity for offshore aquaculture development given the size of its exclusive economic zone, habitat diversity, and variety of candidate species for cultivation. However, promising aquaculture areas overlap many protected species habitats. Aquaculture siting surveys, construction, operations, and decommissioning can alter protected species habitat and behavior. Additionally, aquaculture-associated vessel activity, underwater noise, and physical interactions between protected species and farms can increase the risk of injury and mortality. In 2020, the U.S. Gulf of Mexico was identified as one of the first regions to be evaluated for offshore aquaculture opportunities as directed by a Presidential Executive Order. We developed a transparent and repeatable method to identify aquaculture opportunity areas (AOAs) with the least conflict with protected species. First, we developed a generalized scoring approach for protected species that captures their vulnerability to adverse effects from anthropogenic activities using conservation status and demographic information. Next, we applied this approach to data layers for eight species listed under the Endangered Species Act, including five species of sea turtles, Rice’s whale, smalltooth sawfish, and giant manta ray. Next, we evaluated four methods for mathematically combining scores (i.e., Arithmetic mean, Geometric mean, Product, Lowest Scoring layer) to generate a combined protected species data layer. The Product approach provided the most logical ordering of, and the greatest contrast in, site suitability scores. Finally, we integrated the combined protected species data layer into a multi-criteria decision-making modeling framework for MSP. This process identified AOAs with reduced potential for protected species conflict. These modeling methods are transferable to other regions, to other sensitive or protected species, and for spatial planning for other ocean-uses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas A. Farmer
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Jessica R. Powell
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - James A. Morris
- NOAA/National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Melissa S. Soldevilla
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Lisa C. Wickliffe
- CSS, Inc. under contract to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jonathan A. Jossart
- CSS, Inc. under contract to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jonathan K. MacKay
- CSS, Inc. under contract to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Alyssa L. Randall
- CSS, Inc. under contract to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Gretchen E. Bath
- CSS, Inc. under contract to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Penny Ruvelas
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, West Coast Regional Office, Long Beach, California, United States of America
| | - Laura Gray
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jennifer Lee
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Regional Office, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States of America
| | - Wendy Piniak
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Office of Protected Resources, Silver Spring, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lance Garrison
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Robert Hardy
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kristen M. Hart
- U.S. Geological Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Davie, Florida, United States of America
| | - Chris Sasso
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Lesley Stokes
- NOAA/National Marine Fisheries Service, Southeast Fisheries Science Center, Miami, Florida, United States of America
| | - Kenneth L. Riley
- NOAA/National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Beaufort, North Carolina, United States of America
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