Marine Aquaculture Roundtable Discussion

Sometimes opportunity knocks. Other times she pounds her fists with anxious anticipation.  Such is the case with marine aquaculture in the United States, particularly within the Gulf Coast region.

Thanks to an ever-growing love affair with seafood, the U.S. seafood trade deficit has swelled to a staggering $7 billion.  According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Americans consumed 4.9 billion pounds of seafood in 2006.   More than 80% of seafood consumed in America today is imported, with 40% of that being a product of foreign aquaculture.  For years, seafood demand has overwhelmingly outpaced supply in the U.S., and shows no sign of slowing.  The problem is not limited to America—the United Nations predictions forecast a global seafood shortage of 40 million tons by 2030. 

Due in part to increasing regulation and cost associated with commercial fishing, the worldwide marine aquaculture industry has enjoyed tremendous growth. Historically the U.S. lags behind most developed nations in marine aquaculture production, capturing only 1.5% of the global marine aquaculture industry.  The University of Southern Mississippi Gulf Coast Research Laboratory (GCRL) is working to significantly boost that percentage through research and development.

"The GCRL has a long history of research in marine aquaculture that in recent years has been focused toward making marine aquaculture commercially viable," said William E. Hawkins, GCRL executive director. "We are working with local species for both food production and to replenish natural wild stocks."

The economic development opportunities in marine aquaculture that GCRL and its partner institutions are create was the focus of a recent roundtable discussion held at the GCRL in Ocean Springs, Miss.  Officials and stakeholders gathered for the half-day, invitation-only event included individuals from NOAA, GCRL, the Mississippi Department of Marine Resources, local government officials, bankers, economic developers, and seafood processors and distributors. 

Topics discussed included the current economics of the U.S. seafood industry, research and development opportunities, funding for marine aquaculture research, logistics of expanding marine aquaculture in the Mississippi Gulf Coast region, and the importance of collaborative partnerships among all stakeholders.  

Through the combined efforts of the scientific expertise at GCRL, the support of state and federal agencies, and the Mississippi Congressional delegation, Southern Miss is rapidly becoming known as a leader in marine aquaculture research and development.

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On the web:  Gulf Coast Research Lab