A review of the feasibility, costs, and benefits of platform-based open ocean aquaculture in the Gulf of Mexico

Platform-based open ocean aquaculture (or mariculture) is a fledgling industry with a unique set of risks and uncertainties. In the past two decades, several commercial and experimental platform-based mariculture projects have been launched in the United States, however, all these projects failed or were abandoned because of operational problems or legal issues. The oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico is well suited for mariculture systems as these platforms are large, sturdy and long lasting, and designed to operate in the offshore environment. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the costs and benefits of a open ocean aquaculture industry in the Gulf of Mexico with particular focus on platform-based aquaculture. The opportunities for the use of idle oil and gas structures for open ocean aquaculture are limited, but the reuse of previously removed structures may have more promise.

► We review the potential for open ocean mariculture in the Gulf of Mexico.
► We assess the use of offshore oil and gas platforms as mariculture infrastructure.
► Liability issues constrain the use of existing platforms for mariculture.
► Decommissioned platforms may provide a more plausible alternative for mariculturists.