Research direction and economic feasibility: An example of systems analysis for lobster aquaculture

Abstract This paper summarizes a current research effort to define the bioeconomics of aquaculture and to develop a mathematical model of an aquaculture facility, which emphasizes biological functional relationships and yields quantitative measurements (in dollars) of outcomes for a hypothetical production facility. Results are of potential use to researchers and to prospective aquaculturists, for they portray key parameters in production processes, lead to insights to cost-effective research, and summarize the “state-of-the-art” for those concerned with economic feasibility. The technique used is computer simulation in a systems-like definition of a possible culture facility.