Ecosystem and Public Health Risks from Nearshore and Offshore Finfish Aquaculture

Aquaculture is a dynamic and expanding global industry that produced 73.8 million tons of fish, crustaceans, and shellfish in 2014. One type of aquaculture is characterized by fish farming in coastal or open waters of oceans or large lakes, called nearshore or offshore finfish aquaculture (NOFA). The purpose of this report is to assess whether an expanded NOFA industry in the U.S. would be environmentally sound and safe based on current production practices. To perform our assessment, we examined recent peer-reviewed studies, focusing on fish escapes, disease pressures and treatments, fish waste, and occupational health and safety.