China has long led the way in global aquaculture production, and the country’s mastery of efficient farming of low trophic species has been particularly impressive. However, their growing appetite for high value seafood could cause problems, especially if it’s going to be achieved via a fleet of monstrous mobile offshore vessels. While the scale and speed of these projects is hugely impressive, there appears to have been precious little research into their impact on ocean ecosystems. And, given that these vessels are producing fish that require diets high in marine ingredients, pressure on fragile forage fish stocks is only likely to increase. Although it would be unjust to expect the Chinese to continue eating carp while the West dines on salmon, it’s important that the true impact of this new flotilla is swiftly understood.