The impacts of suspended mariculture on coastal zones in China and the scope for Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

Abstract

Introduction: China is responsible for more than 60\% of global aquaculture production. As the frontiers of food production have expanded, the cultivation of marine organisms in coastal zones and the open ocean has grown rapidly. The dominant mariculture industry in China is suspended mariculture, which uses net cages, ropes, or other structures suspended in the water column to cultivate aquatic organisms. This systematic, quantitative review provides a clear and comprehensive account of research that has investigated the adverse impacts of suspended mariculture in China and reviews research that has applied Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture (IMTA) systems for mitigating impacts. This work builds on 218 peer reviewed papers that have been published in English-language journals. Outcomes: Eighteen impacts were identified, including chemical, ecological, physical, and socioeconomic impacts. Eighteen measures for improving suspended mariculture were recommended consisting of government department, farm management, and ecological engineering measures. IMTA was the most frequently recommended measure. The capabilities of IMTA for bioremediation and increased farm production were the most frequently studied advantages. Seven other benefits have been explored but remain understudied. The current challenges facing the expansion of commercial IMTA include limited use of new technology, limited skills development, decreasing production of low trophic-level species, biogeographic and temporal barriers, and negative system feedbacks. Conclusion: Despite challenges, implementing commercial IMTA is a promising measure for reducing the impacts of suspended mariculture because it presents a range of secondary benefits that can improve the overall sustainability of aquaculture in the coastal zone

Bio mitigation based on integrated multi trophic aquaculture in temperate coastal waters: practice, assessment, and challenges

“…When the nutrients released from aquaculture operations are fully balanced by the harvest of the extractive components such as seaweed, mussel, and sea cucumber, the IMTA system can create the largest environmental and economic benefits. Matter and energy fluxes within IMTA and between IMTA and its surrounding environment need to be qualified and quantified to assess the optimal design and biomitigation efficiency for achieving sustainability (Reid et al, 2009;Chopin et al, 2013;Wartenberg et al, 2017). An experimental approach can be used as an assessment method.…”

Perspectives on Bivalves Providing Regulating Services in Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture

“…Considering the long history of national need for increased food production as the main driver for the dramatic expansion of aquaculture in the coastal zone (Liu and Su 2017), IMTA concepts have been a key component to mitigate the often severe challenges related to environmental impacts and related socio-economic issues. In a recent review, Wartenberg et al (2017) listed the most adverse impacts of suspended mariculture in China and how these could be mitigated through the application of IMTA systems. The main impacts identified were chemical, ecological, physical and socio-economic.…”

“…China's leading case for a truly commercial, engineered IMTA system is Sanggou Bay (Wartenberg et al 2017), located on the eastern coast of the Shandong peninsula facing towards the Yellow Sea. The bay is famous for its mariculture and development of polyculture and IMTA concepts for over 30 years ).…”

“…Today a wide variety of polyculture is practiced in many Asian countries (Troell et al 2009;Soto 2009), mostly dominated China. The classic polyculture model, which essentially includes the co-culturing of species at the same trophic level and/or belonging to different trophic levels, has widely been applied in freshwater aquaculture all over China, at a production level of about 30 million tonnes in 2015 (Wartenberg et al 2017). Development of integrated culture involving marine bivalves is relatively new in China, going back to late 1980s .…”

Aquaculture-induced boundary circulation and its impact on coastal frontal circulation

“…For a case study in the high-density aquaculture region of the coastal Yellow Sea, the aquaculture is developing, expanding, and intensifying in numerous coastal regions ( figure 1(a), red dots). The dominant type of aquaculture in this area is suspended aquaculture, which uses net cages, ropes, or other structures suspended in the water column to cultivate aquatic organisms (Wartenberg et al 2017). In order to meet the increasing demand for aquatic food products, high-density aquaculture facilities have been expanded into the open sea to depths of up to 30 m, thus broadening the range of aquaculture activities, which were previously restricted to intertidal mudflats or bays.…”