ECONOMIC REQUIREMENTS 



It is presently planned to have Phase 1 and 2 farms in the form of moored grids 

 while the feasibility of dynamically positioned farms is being studied. One of the most 

 important economic parameters when considering anchored substrates is the cost of moor- 

 ing and mooring materials. It is currently not feasible to place multipoint mooring anchors 

 and lines for large OFEF substrates below about 600 meters in depth because of the extreme 

 rise in costs beyond that depth (H. Wilcox, personal communication). This cost factor will 

 limit moored farms to approximately the 700-meter contour. Early experimental farms will 

 require much smaller mooring systems and are governed by different economic pressures, 

 allowing them to be moored at deeper depths. 



A second cost factor related to site selection is the proximity of logistic and support 

 facilities. For Phase 1 sites, a distance of approximately 32 kilometers (2-hour transit time) 

 to support facilities is considered maximum due to the significant amount of experimental 

 effort and support required for these early prototype farms. For future Phase 2 farms, the 

 distance to support facilities might be increased to approximately 80 kilometers; however, 

 there is potentially a bottom depth constraint. Phase 3 and future farms may have support 

 facilities incorporated into the farm itself and so it may be economically feasible for the site 

 to be three to several hundred kilometers from the final processing centers on land. 



GEOPOLITICAL CONSIDERATIONS 



The selection of an appropriate site must take certain geographical and political 

 factors into account. Traditional sea lanes and submarine transit zones should be avoided 

 to prevent navigational hazards. Until international agreements are made, the site will have 

 to remain outside the claimed economic and territorial zones of other nations. It is probable 

 that in the near future most of the countries of the world will claim 322-kilometer (200- 

 mile) economic zones. Many of the countries of South and Central America have already 

 claimed 322-kilometer economic zones; some, including Brazil and Ecuador, have claimed 

 322-kilometer territorial limits. Mexico has recently (effective July 1976) claimed a 322- 

 kilometer economic zone, restricting significantly the southern areas where marine farms 

 might be placed, at least until agreements can be made with Mexico. Dr. Arvid Pardo of 

 use, a convener of the Law of the Sea Conference, has strongly recommended that marine 

 systems (such as the Food and Energy Farm) be maintained within the U.S. economic zone, 

 which is currently 19 kilometers (12 miles), but likely will soon (March 1977) be extended 

 to 320 kilometers, unless prior international agreements are made concerning the utilization 

 of open ocean (unclaimed) areas (Dr. B. Anderson, personal communication). 



