ok so a few floatation devices, a de-salinisation plant or crops that grow on salty land... and ahoy there matey... is that an ocean farm i see... increasing the amount of arable land by the use of hydroponics?...

its plausable! its possible... its downright planetsavingable!
-- seraphim, Dec 29 2006

Seaweed Power Seaweed_20Power
Older idea, with more detail. It differs from [21]'s more fanciful "Silent Running" take on the theme. [bungston, Jan 02 2007]

Fantastic! Screen yer farmworkers for seasickness, though. And watch out for icebergs.
-- jenifemeral, Dec 29 2006


Why not just build skyscraper farms with the same hydroponics?
-- Germanicus, Dec 29 2006


While the underscore in the title is titillating, I am somewhat let down by the amount of detail in this proposal.
-- Texticle, Dec 29 2006


mmm... freshwater floating farms are common - Xochimilco in modern Mexico, the chinampas of the Aztecs, floating gardens on the Ton-le-Sap and so on. The ocean's tidal flows and swells would rip these up quickly.
-- ConsulFlaminicus, Dec 29 2006


While I applaud farming the sea, instead of merely raping it for as much fish/minerals we can suck out as fast as possible, wouldn't it make more sense to farm saltwater items?

Kelp is eaten widely, and many forms of sea fish, so perhaps you ought to start with those before adding desalination plants and yet more acres of corn. Or rape.
-- DrCurry, Dec 29 2006


they have fish farms already, as well as oysters and numerous other sea creatures.

Last time I checked lack of arable land was not a big problem. In the US farmers have driven themselves out of house home and business due to efficiency increases. There is more than enough land to feed us all. The problem lies in distribution and location of both the product and the technology(they simply cannot make use of 30 row harvesters in south Africa, they don't have the infrastructure)
-- jhomrighaus, Dec 31 2006


As a solution to land disputes and international regulations, I like it. I would include other functions of this "island", such as fish farming, tourism, etc.
-- twitch, Dec 31 2006


The land constantly loses phosphate to the sea due to sewage being discarded into it. Using phosphate from the sea in one form or another redresses this balance, but "mining" the sea is bad for other reasons. On the other hand, seaweed is bloody brilliant nutritionally, so i would say yes, do it, provided seaweed was used as mulch and also as food.
-- nineteenthly, Dec 31 2006


one word: Hurricanes
-- esperance, Jan 02 2007



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