Modeling Offshore Aquaculture: Comprehensive Planning and Permitting Software

We will develop a fish farm simulation model to assess the operations and impact of a diverse range of fish farms installed in offshore waters of the U.S. and as a means to expedite planning and permitting. The information system is needed by administrators to establish regulations, operators to obtain permits, and investors to assess risks and opportunities. We have already begun development and partial validation of a virtual salmon farm model. It provides a three dimensional simulation of growth and metabolic activity of penned salmon as well as associated flow and transformation of nutrients, oxygen, and particulate wastes in adjacent waters and sediments. During Phase I we will create the only fully comprehensive modeling system of operations and impacts for fish farms growing different species of fish under diverse environmental conditions. Importantly, we will develop, tune, and validate the model to assure accuracy beginning in Phase I and at several varying locations nationwide in Phase II.