The 40 square miles of U.S. Federal waters located on the San Pedro Shelf are ideal for all types of aquaculture operations having a consistent depth of 150 feet, strong flushing characteristics from upwelling, and benign weather conditions. Catalina Sea Ranch’s goal is to expand its 100-acre ranch to over 1,000 acres with science based data showing no negative environmental or social impact. Launching operations with low-risk, high profitable mussels – not susceptible to disease, no predators when suspended on ropes in the open-ocean and harvested 6 through 10 months after seeding – Catalina Sea Ranch intends to expand by cultivating other sustainable filter-feeding shellfish crops. Mollusk shellfish (scallops, oysters, and clams) are among the most lucrative and sustainable fisheries in the U.S. valued at $1 billion.

The $200 billion global aquaculture industry is the fastest-growing food-production sector in the world. Farmed seafood exceeded global beef production for the first time in 2011 and now provides about half of all fish consumed by humans.

During September 2015, NOAA published its “Marine Aquaculture Strategic Plan FY 2016-2020” with the goal: "At least a 50% increase in responsible U.S. marine aquaculture production by the year 2020”. A 50% increase in production amounts to $600 million for U.S marine aquaculture by 2020 or over $100 million per year.