Abstract
The immense US Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) has been explored for expansion of offshore industries but there are social, political, and regulatory hurdles to rapidly grow these industries. Competition for space, environmental concerns, and aesthetic preferences have greatly slowed the development of significant aquaculture or offshore wind (OSW) industries in the USA. The co-location of OSW and aquaculture has long been explored and practiced in Europe and Asia as a solution to address increasing congestion and minimize impacts from ocean-based OSW and aquaculture industries. Here, we review the state of knowledge about the co-location of OSW and aquaculture, including several ecological and social factors, and find a complex socio-ecological landscape. We apply these insights to the US context, highlighting specific obstacles and opportunities for co-location in the USA. We divide the EEZ into 10 regions and assess the feasibility of co-location in each, using a macro-siting approach and qualitative characterization to discuss the potential in each region. We discovered several barriers to co-location in the USA, including inappropriate regulatory structure, significant public opposition to ocean industries, and a lack of incentives for wind and aquaculture companies to operate together. Creative, locally specific approaches could improve relationships between fishing communities and emerging ocean industries through co-development or cooperative cultivation, fishery enhancement, or resource sharing. The physical conditions, renewable energy goals, and public and political support make the Northeast and Gulf of America regions the most opportune for co-location of OSW and aquaculture in the USA.