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The Yukon, a retired Canadian Navy ship, sits on the ocean floor offshore of Mission Beach.

The ship, which was sunk on purpose in 2000 to draw recreational divers, generates an estimated $5.7 million for San Diego’s diving and hospitality economy every year.

To bring more divers to the region, the nonprofit group California Ships to Reef would like to submerge more ships. A new process called marine spatial would help them identify the best spots to do so.

“You want to find a place that’s relatively barren, close to a major port and won’t interfere with a fishery,” said Eleanore Rewerts, the executive director of the nonprofit.

“You take all of these things into consideration, and this is why marine spatial planning is so important, so you know the ideal location for a ship,” Rewerts added.

Marine spatial planning would enlist stakeholders to determine the best use of the ocean, on the surface of the water and deep below. A new report authored by graduate students at UC San Diego states a variety of “blue” industries could benefit from the approach.

Some of those businesses include aquaculture farms, desalination plants and maritime construction, according to the report.

With more competing for ocean space, it’s necessary to identify ideal spots for ocean businesses and activities through a science-based process. In many ways, it’s similar to how land is divvied up for different uses, according to the report.

Currently, businesses like the Carlsbad Aquafarm, which raises and sells seafood to local vendors and restaurants, contribute to the $14 billion annual marine economy. But there’s room for much more growth, the report states.

“Effective planning could increase the gross product of ocean and water-related industries in San Diego dramatically — billions of dollars annually,” the report states. “By establishing needed rules and regulations and pre-approving sites, that would encourage investment and industry growth.”

There’s a lot of money in the ocean, even in small patches.

In just one-square mile, Hubbs-Sea World Research Institute estimates a business could farm 150,000 metric tons of white seabass annually using the latest open-cage technology, generating up to $900 million in economic activity, according to the report….

Read the full article at TheCoastNews.com