Abstract
As global energy demand continues to rise, renewable energy sources are crucial for meeting this increasing need. Simultaneously, the demand for food is also escalating, with projected growth in offshore aquaculture to supply this need. However, the expansion of these developments exerts additional pressure on existing marine spaces and may result in conflicts with other maritime activities. To address these challenges, co-locating marine renewable energy systems with fish farms emerges as a compelling strategy to mitigate spatial constraints and enhance resource utilization within ocean environments.
Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) is a continuous source of energy that can be considered a reliable energy supply for offshore fish farms. This study conducts a spatial analysis using QGIS to assess the suitability of co-locating an offshore Kanpachi fish farm with OTEC systems along the southeast coast of the U.S., as well as in the waters surrounding Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Key data on environmental, regulatory, and logistical parameters critical for this co-location were sourced from publicly available GIS data provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Southeast Coastal Ocean Observing Regional Association (SECOORA). Furthermore, insights into optimal conditions for cultivating Kanpachi fish were gathered from a prospective fish farming site in Florida, while HYCOM data were utilized to evaluate the output power of the OTEC system. Subsequently, the study considers factors and constraints that may restrict the deployment of OTEC systems or fish farms and identifies areas that satisfy all constraints for the co-location of offshore aquaculture and OTEC. This research aims to facilitate the future identification of potential development sites and inform decision-making that supports the blue economy while optimizing the co-location of OTEC resources and offshore Kanpachi aquaculture.