TY - JOUR
T1 - Ocean sprawl
T2 - The global footprint of shellfish and algae aquaculture and its implications for production, environmental impact, and biosecurity
AU - Harvey, M.
AU - Barrett, L. T.
AU - Morris, R. L.
AU - Swearer, S. E.
AU - Dempster, T.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Authors
PY - 2024/5/30
Y1 - 2024/5/30
N2 - Shellfish and algae aquaculture is widespread in marine waters with an extensive footprint that interacts in complex ways with the surrounding environment. Potential impacts include habitat alteration via modifications to flows, nutrients and sediment, and changes in the occurrence of parasites, disease, and other organisms in the food web. To quantify the impact of suspended aquaculture, understanding its scale and spatial arrangement is key. Using satellite imagery, we identified suspended aquaculture structures and assessed their density, type, and distance from shore in countries that produce >90% of global shellfish and algae (China, South Korea, Chile, Japan, and Vietnam). China and Vietnam contained the highest number of farms, with structure density greatest in South Korea and China. On average, longlines were 8 times more common than rafts, and were the dominant production type in all countries except Japan. Farms were located closest to shore in Vietnam (mean ± SE = 469 ± 458 m), and furthest from the coast in China (2010 ± 2157 m). Characterising cultivation techniques and the sprawl of infrastructure across major production regions informs farm placement, management, and regulation to mitigate risks and maximise the benefits associated with suspended aquaculture.
AB - Shellfish and algae aquaculture is widespread in marine waters with an extensive footprint that interacts in complex ways with the surrounding environment. Potential impacts include habitat alteration via modifications to flows, nutrients and sediment, and changes in the occurrence of parasites, disease, and other organisms in the food web. To quantify the impact of suspended aquaculture, understanding its scale and spatial arrangement is key. Using satellite imagery, we identified suspended aquaculture structures and assessed their density, type, and distance from shore in countries that produce >90% of global shellfish and algae (China, South Korea, Chile, Japan, and Vietnam). China and Vietnam contained the highest number of farms, with structure density greatest in South Korea and China. On average, longlines were 8 times more common than rafts, and were the dominant production type in all countries except Japan. Farms were located closest to shore in Vietnam (mean ± SE = 469 ± 458 m), and furthest from the coast in China (2010 ± 2157 m). Characterising cultivation techniques and the sprawl of infrastructure across major production regions informs farm placement, management, and regulation to mitigate risks and maximise the benefits associated with suspended aquaculture.
KW - Algae
KW - Density
KW - Longline
KW - Mariculture
KW - Mussel
KW - Oyster
KW - Raft
KW - Shellfish
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187010998&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.740747
DO - 10.1016/j.aquaculture.2024.740747
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85187010998
SN - 0044-8486
VL - 586
JO - Aquaculture
JF - Aquaculture
M1 - 740747
ER -