By 2005, offshore aquaculture was present in 25 countries, both as experimental and commercial farms.[5] Market demand means that the most offshore farming efforts are directed towards raising finfish.[8] Two commercial operations in the US, and a third in the Bahamas are using submersible cages to raise high-value carnivorous finfish, such as moi, cobia, and mutton snapper.[1] Submersible cages are also being used in experimental systems for halibut, haddock, cod, and summer flounder in New Hampshire waters, and for amberjack, red drum, snapper, pompano, and cobia in the Gulf of Mexico.[1]
The offshore aquaculture of shellfish grown in suspended culture systems, like scallops and mussels, is gaining ground. Suspended culture systems include methods where the shellfish are grown on a tethered rope or suspended from a floating raft in net containers.[12] Mussels in particular can survive the high physical stress levels which occur in the volatile environments that occur in offshore waters. Finfish species must be feed regularly, but shellfish do not, which can reduce costs.[12] The University of New Hampshire in the US has conducted research on the farming of blue mussels submerged in an open ocean environment.[31] They have found that when farmed in less polluted waters offshore,[32] the mussels develop more flesh with lighter shells.[31]
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