Sustainable Aquaculture with Steven Hall

Fish, Robots, and Oysters: How Dr. Steven Hall is Redefining Sustainable Aquaculture

When most people think of seafood, they picture the sizzling fish on their plate, but for Dr. Steven Hall, the story of seafood begins far beneath the surface — in the vast, interconnected world of aquaculture. I recently had the chance to speak with Dr. Hall, a professor at North Carolina State University, who has spent decades exploring the sustainable future of aquaculture — a field where technology, biology, and environmental stewardship collide. From his groundbreaking work with aquaculture robotics to his fascination with oysters as nature’s water filters, Dr. Hall offered a fresh, exciting look at how we can balance feeding the world with protecting our oceans.

The Rise of Aquaculture: Feeding the World Without Destroying It

According to Dr. Hall, aquaculture is now the fastest-growing source of protein on the planet, providing more fish than all the wild-caught fish in our rivers, lakes, and oceans combined.

But what makes fish such an efficient source of protein? Dr. Hall explained that fish have an exceptional feed conversion ratio (FCR). Unlike cows, which need around 20 pounds of feed to produce one pound of meat, fish convert almost all the food they eat into body mass. They are essentially nature’s most efficient protein producers. Yet with this explosive growth in fish farming comes a challenge: How do we make sure aquaculture is both productive and sustainable? For Dr. Hall, the answer lies in smart, data-driven techniques — and even a touch of science fiction.

Aquaculture Meets Automation: Fish Farming with a Futuristic Twist

Imagine a fleet of small, lightweight robots patrolling an underwater farm, checking water quality, monitoring fish health, and even feeding them. This is not the future — this is the reality of Dr. Hall’s research. Supported by the National Science Foundation and the USDA, his team is building affordable, energy-efficient aquaculture robots.

But unlike the massive, high-tech robots in car factories, these are designed to be simple but effective. “If you’re selling fish for $3 a pound, you can’t afford a million-dollar robot,” Dr. Hall joked. Instead, his team is focused on co-robotics, where robots work alongside human farmers rather than replacing them. One of the standout innovations from Dr. Hall’s team is ShellCast, a forecasting app designed for shellfish farmers. ShellCast is like a weather app, but for water quality, using data to predict safe and unsafe conditions for shellfish farming. Farmers get a simple green, yellow, or red signal to help them decide when to harvest. Dr. Hall’s philosophy is clear: automation should enhance human decision-making, not replace it. “We should neither be afraid of AI, nor see it as a savior. It’s a tool — use it wisely,” he advised.

Oysters: The Tiny, Unseen Heroes of Coastal Waters

If you thought oysters were just a tasty appetizer, think again. To Dr. Hall, oysters are nature’s unsung heroes — living water filters that clean entire bays and protect coastlines. One oyster can filter up to 50 gallons of water a day, and vast oyster reefs filter all the water in Chesapeake Bay in just three days. But oysters do more than just clean water. Their shells are made of calcium carbonate, which means they store carbon, helping to fight climate change. They also form massive reefs that provide habitat for young fish, reduce coastal erosion, and protect shorelines from storm surge. Yet not all oysters are the same. Dr. Hall explained the difference between wild oysters, which grow in natural reef systems, and cultured oysters, which are farmed for food. While wild reefs are essential for coastal protection and habitat, farmed oysters offer a sustainable source of protein without overfishing wild populations. “The key,” Dr. Hall emphasized, “is to find a balance. We need to restore wild reefs while also responsibly farming oysters for food.”

Facing Climate Change: Can Aquaculture Save Our Oceans?

Aquaculture is not just about growing fish — it is also about protecting the oceans. But with climate change warming the seas and increasing ocean acidity, how can we ensure that aquaculture survives?

Dr. Hall explained that while some marine species are sensitive to slight changes in pH, oysters are relatively resilient. Experiments have shown that oysters can survive even in conditions with much lower pH than predicted for the future. But the real threat may not be acidity — it could be more powerful coastal storms. As these storms grow stronger, they can destroy oyster reefs, damage fish farms, and threaten coastal communities. Dr. Hall believes that nature-based solutions — like restoring oyster reefs — are far better than building seawalls, which can be expensive and environmentally harmful.

Finding the Sweet Spot: Balancing Productivity with Sustainability

One of the most surprising insights from our conversation was how Dr. Hall and his team use data to create precision aquaculture. Just as farmers on land use GPS and sensors to optimize crops, Dr. Hall’s team uses sensors, underwater cameras, and automation to ensure that fish and shellfish get the right amount of food, clean water, and care. “Precision aquaculture is about getting the right amount, in the right place, at the right time,” Dr. Hall explained. This means less waste, lower environmental impact, and healthier seafood. And while the word “automation” may make some people think of job losses, Dr. Hall is quick to point out that his vision is one of human-robot collaboration. “Humans will always be part of the system,” he said. “Robots are there to help, not replace.”

The Bigger Picture: Why Aquaculture Matters for Our Future

At the end of our conversation, I asked Dr. Hall what he wished more people understood about aquaculture. His answer was clear: “Aquaculture is fundamentally a sustainability enterprise. It’s about producing healthy, affordable food in a way that protects our environment.” As the world’s population grows and climate change puts more pressure on natural ecosystems, sustainable aquaculture could be a game-changer. But it is not just about producing more fish — it is about doing it in a way that protects the oceans and supports coastal communities. If you want to learn more about Dr. Hall’s work and the future of sustainable aquaculture, you can explore his team’s research and resources at aquaculture.cs.ncsu.edu. In a world where feeding billions while protecting the planet seems like an impossible challenge, Dr. Hall and his team are showing us a way forward — one fish, one oyster, and one smart idea at a time.