Seagriculture Speaker

About the speaker:

James Morris is a marine ecologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) where his research focuses on coastal marine ecology and marine spatial planning. He has led many multidisciplinary research projects and developed programs addressing coastal management challenges including invasive species, fisheries management, stock enhancement, coastal aquaculture development, and endangered species conservation. James is presently leading regional marine spatial planning studies to inform optimal siting of pioneering ocean industries, such as wind energy. James is also an adjunct Assistant Professor at Duke University and North Carolina State University.

Company info: 

The NOAA NCCOS delivers ecosystem science solutions to sustain thriving coastal communities and economies. We provide coastal managers the information and tools they need to balance society's environmental, social, and economic goals.

Presentation:

Finding the right space for offshore aquaculture is challenging given the large number of existing ocean uses and sensitive natural resources. To inform planning and siting of ocean aquaculture, NOAA has developed spatial planning infrastructure. This increased ocean intelligence has vastly improved access and understanding of ocean regions enabling industry and coastal managers to identify conflicts and opportunities early in the planning and permitting process.

Keywords: 

marine spatial planning, spatial modeling, aquaculture, macroalgae, coastal management