The North American Marine Alliance coordinated this creation of a vision for community-based, values driven aquaculture. This vision was a result of surveys, focus groups, and research with members of the Local Catch Network and other allies. Eight main aquaculture values were identified:
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- Food - Aquaculture is essential to the overall seafood supply and is vital for healthy and culturally appropriate food systems.
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- Stewardship - Aquaculture production should protect and honor every watershed and ecosystem’s intrinsic ecological value and environmental rhythms on land and at sea.
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- Community-Based - Community-based aquaculture enhances the social, ecological, economic, and cultural fabric of our communities and integrates with existing fisheries.
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- Access - Aquaculture should provide equitable opportunities for new and diverse participants of all ages, genders, races, cultures, and incomes.
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- Equitable Supply Chains - All workers along the seafood supply chain deserve fair living wages, safe working conditions, and work with dignity.
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- Place-Based Knowledge - Local and place-based knowledge is necessary to steward aquaculture operations in harmony with the surrounding ecosystems on both land and sea.
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- Public Resource - We affirm the public trust doctrine and the unique rights of tribal nations in their traditional homelands.
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- Accountability - Fair, transparent, clear, and adequate regulatory planning and enforcement are critical to values-based aquaculture.