Multisectoral Aquaculture Engagement

The Challenge

• Aquaculture is a topic of growing interest in the U.S. due to its potential to lessen pressure on wild fish stocks and enhance food and nutritional security. But where some see huge potential to grow the country’s seafood industry, others are concerned about the risks aquaculture poses to existing ocean uses and the marine environment.

The Stakeholders

• Since 2019, Meridian has engaged over 250 individuals from across the U.S. oceans space to better understand opportunities and challenges around the future of domestic marine aquaculture. These stakeholders include commercial and recreational fishermen, operators and investors in the aquaculture industry, seafood supply chain actors, environmental NGOs, government officials, as well as tribal and local community leaders.

The Impact

• Stakeholders with much to gain and lose from aquaculture development have been able to engage in productive dialogue with one another, enhancing opportunities to collaboratively generate solutions and inform policy.
• Through workshops, educational site visits, and deliberative convenings, we have helped build shared understanding around what it would mean for responsible marine aquaculture to contribute to a thriving U.S. seafood industry and blue economy.

Growing demand for sustainable protein has accelerated financial and political investment in aquaculture production in the U.S. However, ocean stakeholders and coastal community leaders have diverse opinions as to whether the U.S. can develop a sustainable and equitable domestic aquaculture industry and, if so, how to realize such an industry.

Building out this industry requires addressing concerns and interests from various ocean stakeholders. For example, while commercial fishermen may worry about market competition from new seafood products and fishing ground disruptions, environmental groups often prioritize minimizing impacts on marine species and habitats.

In response to rising interest in this topic from federal agencies, Congress, investors, companies, and NGOs, Meridian is facilitating cross-sectoral engagement to increase understanding among ocean stakeholders (e.g., commercial and recreational fishermen, aquaculture industry and finance, seafood supply chain, environmental NGOs, government agencies, tribal and local community leaders) to inform responsible development of U.S. marine aquaculture. Meridian is also engaging practitioners who are working to expand representation in the domestic aquaculture workforce to scope out actions for enhancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in the industry.

As a trusted third party, Meridian is working to build common ground through solutions-oriented dialogue and create trusted spaces for affected sectors to discuss values, needs, concerns, and opportunities regarding the future of U.S. marine aquaculture. Insights and opportunities from this work can guide discussion on key issues and enhance collaborative solutions.

Learn More

Insights Post: Multisector Aquaculture Design Workshop: Charting an Inclusive Future for U.S. Seafood Production

Insights Post: The Value of Place-Based Learning: Reflections on Aquaculture in Hawai‘i

Case Study: Aquaculture DEI: Utilizing Collaboration to Bolster Workforce Pathway Development