Can Land-Based Aquaculture Farms Counter Ocean Rise and Feed the World?

Land-based aquaculture farms like the Kuterra salmon farm offer a promising solution for producing food while minimizing environmental impact. While these farms cannot solve the root cause of rising sea levels—fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions—they might offer a complementary approach to mitigate some of the effects.

Addressing Sea Level Rise

The notion of physically moving vast amounts of water from oceans to inland fish farms raises significant practical concerns. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Greenland ice sheet alone, ranging between six and nine thousand feet deep and covering about six hundred thousand square miles, contains enough water to cover the entire USA hundreds of feet deep, with plenty left over. Achieving this scale through an annual inland pond construction project is impractical and environmentally detrimental.

Mathematically, the amount of water that would need to be displaced to counter ocean rise is staggering. The Earth's ocean surface area, calculated as 0.7 times 4 x 3.14 x 3959 x 3959 square miles, is approximately 140,000,000 square miles. With a rate of rise at 2 mm per year, this translates to 0.00000124 miles of water depth, resulting in a volume of 175 cubic miles of water. Assuming ponds that are only 10 feet deep, this corresponds to a pond area of 92,400 square miles, which is roughly the size of Oregon, USA. The task of building this many ponds every year is not only monumental but also highly impractical.

Environmental and Ecological Considerations

Attempting to solve the problem by redirecting water from the oceans to inland farms is not only impractical but also ecologically and environmentally unsound. The idea of moving just a few centimeters of water over the entire ocean surface is virtually impossible, considering the vast expanse of the Earth's oceans (approximately two-thirds of the Earth's surface). Furthermore, any such large-scale project would likely disrupt existing ecosystems, leading to unforeseen ecological impacts.

A more feasible approach would be to focus on restoring natural ice caps, which would have the dual benefit of reducing sea levels and enhancing natural processes. However, the energy required to freeze such an amount of water would be enormous. Advanced technologies and sustainable energy solutions could play a crucial role in addressing some of these challenges, but the scale of the problem remains daunting.

Complementary Solutions: Combining Land-Based Aquaculture with Green Energy

While land-based aquaculture might not directly counter ocean rise, it can significantly contribute to addressing hunger and food security while minimizing environmental impact. These farms can be designed to integrate with renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. Such integration not only helps in reducing the carbon footprint but also provides a sustainable source of energy for the farms themselves.

Land-based aquaculture farms can also contribute to local food security by providing a reliable source of protein. They can be strategically located near urban areas, reducing transportation emissions and providing fresh, locally produced food. This approach aligns with the principles of regenerative agriculture and sustainable food systems.

Conclusion: While land-based aquaculture farms cannot physically counter ocean rise, they can offer a meaningful contribution to food security and sustainable development. Combining these farms with green energy technologies can help create a more resilient and sustainable future. Addressing the root causes of ocean rise, such as reducing fossil fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, remains essential for long-term solutions.