Developing Consensus Indicators of Sustainability for Southeastern United States Aquaculture

Many diverse, conflicting stakeholders groups are activeley engaged in an increasingly volatile debate over the proper definition and application of sustainability in aquaculture. Attempts to find common-ground on general sustainability goals and parameters have not yet been successful. This study illustrates the potential of utilizing a Delphi approach to identify and refine consensus indicators of sustainability along three separate disciplinary axes; environmental, economic, and sociological. In fact, nonparametric statistical analysis of sustainability categories and indicators indicated a high level of consensus among and between diverse stakeholder groups after the Delphi process.

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