FINAL PROJECT [GIS5050L]: Expanding Aquaculture Awareness and Utilization in Brevard County, Florida
Created Using ArcGIS Pro 2.2.0 Expanding Aquaculture Awareness and Utilization in Brevard County, Florida ABSTRACT: Aquaculture is a general term encompassing the farming of aquatic organisms (animals, plants, and algae) in coastal and inland waterways. In the United States, the State of Florida ranks as one of the most highly diverse aquafarming states with sales of products for human consumption totaling millions of dollars annually. However, the economic benefits of this industry come with the risks associated with dependence on waterways that may be contaminated in both known (permitted pollution) and unknown ways (e.g., seasonal changes in water quality). Given foodborne illness risks and the demand for aquaculture expanding globally as one possible solution to food insecurity, GIS-based tools to assess the suitability of potential aquafarming selection are invaluable, especially when balancing varied stakeholder interests in managing disease spread, impact on sensitiv