Aquaculture America 2024

February 18 - 21, 2024

San Antonio, Texas

THE OREGON AQUACULTURE EXPLORER: AN INTEGRATIVE GEOSPATIAL PLATFORM SUPPORTING AQUACULTURE INVESTMENT, EDUCATION, PERMITTING, AND FINANCIAL PLANNING

Authors:  Kellen L. Parrish*,  Gil Sylvia, John Moehl, Clint Bentz, Angee Doerr, Janine Salwasser, Amy Ehrhart, Lisa Gaines, Michael Harte, Ford Evans, Marc Rempel, Myrica Muir McCune

 

 Oregon Aquaculture Association, kellen@oregonaquaculture.org

 



The Aquaculture Explorer, an integrated geospatial platform,  was designed to facilitate the development of the aquaculture sector in the s tate of Oregon. The authors developed the tool  in partnership with Oregon State University, state agencies, and  the aquaculture industry. The platform has t hree components: 1) a site selection portal with geographic and demographic information in a GIS setting ; 2) a financial planning tool that estimates costs and returns based on site select ion;  and,  3) an estuarine planning tool to support shellfish regulation and permitting.  The platform  is designed to  help aspiring farmers locate  aquaculture farm  sites with critical  attributes regarding land, water ,  markets, and utilities. In addition to private producer use, r egulators and permitting agencies can use the tool  to visualize protected habitat issues and multiple use conflicts .

 The  financial  tools are  designed to  help investors  evaluate business operations and adjust financial projections .  The  tool currently accommodates three species/systems models: striped bass in pond systems, tilapia in  Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS), and sturgeon in RAS . Currently, the authors are at work on a model for a co-culture system with dulse seaweed and purple sea urchins, a s well as  an aquaponics system model.  Each model has unique bio-economics, drawing from significant background research and data on their diverse production attributes. After using the tool to select a site and a species ,  the user  can  then  complete a  farm profile  the incudes  production volumes, area  of operation,  and the costs associated with startup, operating,  transportation, and financing. Users can toggle e ach variable to adjust assumptions and projections. The model provides financial performance for an average year as well as a ten- year  projection.

 The mapping tool provides 69 different  data layers to assist in site evaluation . Users  can include their distance from major markets, feed suppliers, and processing locations. T he mapping tool  also  provides  data on  wells and springs, water body data, protected habitat and resources, elevation, and sources of solar and geothermal energy, among others. The estuarine data layers can help  shellfish growers evaluate estuary sites  that are  consistent with regulatory requirements.  The Explorer generates summary site reports for growers to evaluate regulatory considerations.

 The Aquaculture Explorer Platform is a unique  approach to support aquaculture development.  It  is now being integrated in undergraduate and gra duate  aquaculture classes to help  train the state’s new aquaculturists.   We expect the Oregon Aquaculture Explor er Platform  will be  a vital tool  to facilitate development ,  provide a common language, and  facilitate dialogue between public entities and private growers.