RAS are in the planning , investment , and development stages throughout the World. RAS have tremendous potential to play a pivotal role in the radical transformation of aquaculture to become a major global food source . However, there are identifiable risks arising . Aquaculture’s modern industrial h istory is repeating itself in many countries as RAS developments are being denied or delayed due to adverse decisions by less-than- fully informed government agencies and well-funded public interest groups . Both use less than comprehensive, updated, science-based information to deny permits . Both accelerate community opposition to RAS. The GESAMP (2008) Risk Analysis and FAO (2010) Ecosystem Approach to Aquaculture (EAA) are valuable frameworks for use worldwide to move RAS developments forward . These frameworks integrat e aquaculture developments in to the wider , interlinked, community and bioregional social-ecological systems to promote greater equity and resilience . They account for the full range of stakeholders, spheres of influences, community and educational development contexts , and their interlink ages. Using GESAMP and the EAA , RAS companies can pro-actively engage communities to identify win-win situations. H owever, companies need to accelerate their investments to build the expertise and capabilities of grass-roots , aquaculture community organizations to ensure their long-term stability to ad dress the known social-ecological concerns of communities considering incorporating RAS into their futures:
Accelerated non -product investments in the se approaches w ould advance RAS developments in rural communities worldwide so that these high potential systems can contribute more significantly to the urgent needs for the global transformation of food systems as envisioned in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).