Biodiversity–Ecosystem Functioning (BEF) approach to further understanding aquaculture–environment interactions with application to bivalve culture and benthic ecosystems

Abstract

Coastal benthic ecosystems may be impacted by numerous human activities, including aquaculture, which continues to expand rapidly. Indeed, today aquaculture worldwide provides more biomass for human consumption than do wild fisheries. This rapid development raises questions about the interactions the practice has with the surrounding environment. In order to design strategies of sustainable ecosystem exploitation and marine spatial planning, a better understanding of coastal ecosystem functioning is needed so that tools to quantify impacts of human activities, including aquaculture, may be developed. To achieve this goal, some possible directions proposed are integrated studies leading to new concepts, model development based on these concepts and comparisons of various ecosystems on a global scale. This review draws on existing literature to (i) briefly summarize the major ecological interactions between off‐bottom shellfish aquaculture and the environment, (ii) introduce research on the influence of benthic diversity on ecosystem functioning (BEF relationships) and (iii) propose a holistic approach to conduct aquaculture–environment studies using a BEF approach, highlighting the need for integrated studies that could offer insights and perspectives to guide future research efforts and improve the environmental management of aquaculture.

Linking habitat interactions and biodiversity within seascapes

“…These differences among estuaries suggest factors acting at large spatial scales may influence habitat linkages between oysters and surrounding sediments. This study showed the importance of habitat‐forming species in shaping the physicochemical and ecological characteristics in connected habitats at scale, adding to a growing body of literature on the ecosystem‐wide effects of habitat formers (e.g., Lacoste et al, 2020; van de Koppel et al, 2015). While previous studies have established how habitat interactions affect nutrient cycling around reefs (e.g., Hoellein & Zarnoch, 2014; Smyth, 2013), this is the first study to demonstrate relationships between proximity to reefs and sediment biodiversity.…”

Are we overlooking Natura 2000 sites? Lessons learned from a transnational project in the Adriatic Sea

“…To make this possible, it is necessary to actively support sustainable bivalve shellfish farming as part of cultural heritage and traditional value, and, at the same time, do an inventory of the biodiversity components, and monitor periodically the status of the marine environment (Golec and ECOSS Partnership, 2020). Indeed, aquaculture may impact the benthic habitats by increasing biodeposition to the seafloor (by mussel feces and pseudofeces) and induce variation in nutrient loading and fluxes, anaerobic metabolism in sediments and change in benthic community structure and functioning (Lacoste et al, 2020). In addition, the ecosystem in Malostonski zaljev N2K site is under the influence of the mainland, thus the surrounding land-based activities must be regulated to reduce water pollution and physical destruction of habitats due to urbanization.…”

Defining Nature-Based Solutions Within the Blue Economy: The Example of Aquaculture

“…Although aquaculture is principally concerned with the production of food (food security) it can be designed to meet other societal challenges such as climate change mitigation (Sondak et al, 2017), adaption (Galappaththi et al, 2020), economic and social development (Ponte et al, 2014), and the mitigation of environmental and biodiversity degradation (Lacoste et al, 2020).…”