October 2019

The authors conducted a global spatial analysis using key environmental and human health factors to identify marine ecoregions with the greatest potential for development of shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. The highest opportunity marine ecoregions for shellfish aquaculture centered on Oceania, North America, and portions of Asia. Northern California and the Southern California Bight were identified among the top 25 highest opportunity ecoregions for the development of shellfish aquaculture.