Global Aquaculture Productivity, Environmental Sustainability, and Climate Change Adaptability

Environ Manage. 2019 Feb;63(2):159-172. doi: 10.1007/s00267-018-1117-3. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Abstract

To meet the demand for food from a growing global population, aquaculture production is under great pressure to increase as capture fisheries have stagnated. However, aquaculture has raised a range of environmental concerns, and further increases in aquaculture production will face widespread environmental challenges. The effects of climate change will pose a further threat to global aquaculture production. Aquaculture is often at risk from a combination of climatic variables, including cyclone, drought, flood, global warming, ocean acidification, rainfall variation, salinity, and sea level rise. For aquaculture growth to be sustainable its environmental impacts must reduce significantly. Adaptation to climate change is also needed to produce more fish without environmental impacts. Some adaptation strategies including integrated aquaculture, recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), and the expansion of seafood farming could increase aquaculture productivity, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptability.

Keywords: Adaptation; Aquaculture; Climate change; Environment; Productivity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Aquaculture
  • Climate Change*
  • Fisheries
  • Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
  • Seawater*