Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

This site is currently in beta, and your feedback is helping shape its ongoing development.

NCCOS Assessment: An Aquaculture Opportunity Atlas for the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (NCEI Accession 0285913)

Published by NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce | Metadata Last Checked: January 29, 2026 | Last Modified: 2024-01-09T00:00:00.000+00:00
Shapefiles of the Aquaculture Opportunity Area (AOA) study developed during 2021 for the Gulf of Mexico. Included in this dataset are: (1) Study areas in the Gulf of Mexico developed based on depth, jurisdictional boundaries, and Level III biogeographical breaks. (2) Compiled observations of Harmful Algal Blooms (Karina brevis) from 2000 to 2018 in the Gulf of Mexico and eastern Florida. (3) Suitability modeling results for the West, Central, East, and Southeast Gulf of Mexico study areas are presented as categories (“Unsuitable,” “Low,” “Moderate,” “High”) based on ocean use and conservation concerns, including: national security, natural and cultural resources, industry, navigation, transportation, aquaculture, and fishing. (4) High-High clusters (HH) identified as the most suitable areas from LISA (Local Index of Spatial Association) analysis. (5) Refined HH clusters that could accommodate at least one 500-acre AOA option. (6) Highest ranking options for each of the refined HH clusters representing a 500- to 2000-acre area between 50 to 150 meters depth that has relatively high suitability for generalized marine aquaculture based on a within cluster model evaluating logistics, vessel traffic, commercial fishing, and oceanography data. (7) Location and areal extent of options identified for each study region meeting a dispersion rule (greater than 30 nautical miles distance between locations).

Resources

41 resources available

  • NCEI Dataset Landing Page

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Descriptive Information

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • HTTPS

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • FTP

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/project/aquaculture-opportunity-areas-for-federal-waters-of-the-united-states-exclusive-economic-zone/

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://coastalscience.noaa.gov/data_reports/an-aquaculture-opportunity-area-atlas-for-the-u-s-gulf-of-mexico/

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.25923/8cb3-3r66

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1111/raq.12422

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3447-8_6

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • The development of international maritime boundary principles through United States practice

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1641/b570707

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3447-8

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Marine ecoregions of North America

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2004.12.010

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Environmental sustainability of economic trends in the Gulf of Mexico: what is the limit for Mexican coastal development?

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.3354/meps07853

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • A historical review of Gymnodinium breve red tides implicated in mass mortalities of the manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) in Florida, USA

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Effects of Gymnodinium breve red tide on fishes and birds: a preliminary report on behavior, anatomy, hematology and histopathology

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Development and evaluation of habitat suitability criteria for use in the instream flow incremental methodology.

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1111/sjtg.12250

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.133

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • A global assessment of potential for offshore mariculture development from a spatial perspective

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2008.06.010

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.074

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2008.07.048

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2011.05.033

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1538-4632.1995.tb00338.x

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • ArcGIS Pro: Release 2.8.0. Redlands, CA: Environmental Systems Research Institute

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • What is a z-score? What is a p-value? Esri ArcGIS Pro online.

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Coastal Relief Model (CRM)

    FILE
  • Federal and State Waters

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Ecoregions of North America, Marine Ecoregions Level III

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/0120767

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/NOS-HABOFS-FL-TX

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Harmful Algal Blooms

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Red Tide Current Status

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • RHAB Monitoring Database

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • Red Tide in Texas Current Status

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • GCMD Keyword Forum Page

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE
  • NCEI Contact Information

    PLACEHOLDER/VALUE

data.gov

An official website of the GSA's Technology Transformation Services

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov