Assessing the potential of mariculture to provide ecosystem services based on cultured species, modes and regions

• Published in: Ocean & coastal management Vol. 256; p. 107294
• Main Authors: Tang, Yazhou, Tang, Yu, Chen, Rong, Chen, Linyuan, Zhou, Dan, Xue, Jianhui, Wu, Yongbo, Zhang, Yinlong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2024
• Subjects: Ecological processes; Ecosystem services; Mariculture; Potential; Sustainable management; Mariculture; Sustainable management; Ecological processes; Ecosystem services; Potential
• ISSN: 0964-5691
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2024.107294

Ecosystem services (ES) are outcomes of ecological processes that maintain and fulfil human well-being. Mariculture systems can provide ES similar to natural ecosystems, such as carbon sequestration, water purification, and habitat provisioning. The processes of some aquaculture practices can also harm these services, posing a serious challenge to mariculture sustainability. Although the ES provided by aquaculture practices may be influenced by species and modes and vary in regions with different environmental conditions, few studies have integrated these data from the perspectives of cultured species, modes, and regions on a broad scale. This study identified the benefits and harms of mariculture on ES globally through a literature search of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) Web of Science platform, and the potential of aquaculture practices to provide ES was assessed for different species, modes, and regions by a binomial generalized linear mixed-effects model (BGLMM). Eleven beneficial and ten harmful ecological processes of mariculture related to ES were identified. The number of reports varied considerably among species, modes, and regions of aquaculture practice, as well as between beneficial and harmful processes to the service subcategories they considered, indicating the need for an objective view of the benefits and harms of mariculture on ES. The direction of ES provision by aquaculture practices is not only associated with cultured species and modes but is also influenced by social and environmental factors. Comparing ES provision potential can identify sustainable aquaculture practices. Algae and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) were found to be the species and mode most likely to produce ES, respectively. Development planning for mariculture ought to encourage sustainable aquaculture practices such as algal culture and IMTA, while considering the local environmental and social context. There are insufficient studies and some biases in the reviewed literature on ecological processes that affect the benefits and harms of mariculture to ES. Future research on the effects of mariculture on ES could be improved in terms of ecological processes, influencing factors, and modeling methods. •An integrated classification of ecosystem services was proposed.•The benefits and harms of mariculture on ecosystem services were considered.•The potential of mariculture practices to provide ecosystem services was assessed for different species, modes and regions.•Based on the results of the potential assessment, rational recommendation was provided for sustainable mariculture.