Most aquaculture activities occur near or in coastal waters, which results in increased exposure to extreme environmental events and conditions. Growers and government can both play a role in increasing the industry’s resiliency.
Growers are encouraged to develop a site-specific Disaster Preparedness Plan, like the guides below that outline recommended procedures for short-term preparations and recovery from storm events for suspended shellfish culture gear, land-based infrastructure, and vessels. Producers should also incorporate management practices, document and maintain site, and design their site infrastructure to withstand extreme conditions. Government regulators also have an opportunity to increase resilience through modification of existing policies, legislation, regulatory framework, and reporting standards to include best management practices and accurate documentation of operations. These standards can promote the development of insurance and/or Business Risk Management programs to support the aquaculture industry under our changing climate.
