There is great potential (ecological and economic) to grow nutritious protein in U.S. waters to complement land-based agriculture and support a more climate resilient food supply. Despite this, the growth of the sector in U.S. waters is negligible relative to its capacity for responsible growth . One of the barriers to growth is a lack of "social license" from the public. Negative perceptions among small, but politically powerful public stakeholder groups can greatly complicate, and even prevent the growth and expansion of marine aquaculture projects. It is imperative that efforts are made to 1) educate the general public about what marine aquaculture is and what the sector looks like in the U.S., 2) humanize and share stories about the farmers, researchers, and others involved so the public becomes more familiar with, not just marine aquaculture, but the people who make it happen, and 3) provide accurate information that is accessible to diverse stakeholder groups for more consistent distribution.
The Aquarium of the Pacific's Seafood for the Future program , in collaboration with NOAA, Sea Grant, and others, is working on a number of projects to help familiarize the public with marine aquaculture in the U.S. and to facilitate collaborative action to disseminate accurate about marine aquaculture more consistently across diverse stakeholder groups. These efforts include a communication toolkit, a story m ap featuring locations and information of U.S. marine aquaculture farms, and a story map (or other public-facing platform as appropriate) to highlight case studies where marine aquaculture has affected economic and social viability (positive and negative). These tools can be used to educate the general public, as well as engage stakeholders, including policy makers, with accurate information about marine aquaculture in the U.S. The success of these projects greatly depends on quality and diversity of participation. We will need all hands on deck!