SUMMARY 

 OBJECTIVES 



The principal objectives of this site selection project are to: 



• establish preliminary site selection for an ocean food and energy farm (OFEF) based 

 on the requirements and Umitations of OFEF as delineated by the principal 

 investigators; 



• compile a digest of oceanographic and meteorological data useful to the selection of 

 the Phase 1 and future fami sites; and 



• select candidate Phase 1 sites after a thorough review of pertinent data and literature, 

 and report these sites in order of increasing importance. 



RESULTS 



Site selection criteria and requirements are developed and are listed. Pertinent 

 oceanographic and meteorological data are given in tables, figures and appendices. By com- 

 paring these criteria to the available environmental data, the southern California offshore 

 region from 32°30'N to 34°30'N was chosen as the most suitable preliminary site for OFEF. 

 This area has been selected as the optimal location for Phase 1 , and probably for Phase 2 

 and early 3 as well, for the following reasons. 



1. The sites chosen are within the U.S. economic zone (increased to 200 miles in 

 March 1977), thereby avoiding possible international conflict. 



2. The region has the most mild and least severe extreme weather conditions of any 

 offshore area within the economic zone of the continental United States or Hawaii. It has a 

 very low occurrence of high velocity winds and high waves. This is because the region is north of 

 the tropical cyclone zone and is located on the southern extreme of the extra-tropical 

 cyclone region. 



3. In this nearshore area, nutrients of adequate concentrations are relatively near 

 the surface (15-25 /ig-at/liter NO3 at 100 meters). 



4. Research and support facilities are available close to the proposed sites. 



5. The region is within the natural habitat zone of Macrocystis pyrifera . Tempera- 

 ture and light regions are excellent for Macrocystis growth. 



6. Current speeds are mostly within the ranges specified for optimal OFEF opera- 

 tions and kelp growth characteristics. 



RECOMMENDATIONS 



It is recommended that: (i) siting of Phase 1 and probably future ocean farms be 

 within the southern California offshore region; (ii) further research on M. Pyrifera be 

 performed to define nutrient and temperature requirements and possible synergistic effects 

 for better definition of potential growing sites; (iii) other worldwide geographic locales be 

 investigated for possible future siting of OFEF's; and (iv) that thorough current surveys be 

 conducted at final sites prior to placement of farm. This is necessary for final engineering 

 requirements and farm configuration planning. 



