Looking to Grow Outside the United States

Perceptions and expectations are integral factors affecting decision making. However, aquaculture stake-holders' perceptions and social attitudes have been largely neglected in aquaculture management and planning. We examine the relationship between US aquaculturists' intended actions to expand production capacity abroad and factors influencing their decisions, including: perceptions of market conditions, regulatory climate, property rights, government leadership, comparative advantages, and demographic characteristics. Primary data were collected via an original survey. The results indicate that large-scale, non-shellfish marine aquaculturists without an advanced graduate degree are more likely to expand abroad. These aquaculturists tend to have high expectations about seafood demand and think that US permit and environmental regulations are strict; aquaculture leases should be transferable; and the United States has comparative advantages in skilled labor availability and access to domestic markets. If retaining aquaculture entrepreneurs and investors domestically is the policy target, recommendations are given.