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New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture
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New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (3 January 2024) | Viewed by 7562

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Domitilla Pulcini

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
Interests: aquaculture; fish domestication; fish morphology and ecology; sustainable management of aquatic ecosystems; fish nutrition
Dr. Fabrizio Capoccioni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria – Centro di Ricerca Zootecnia e Acquacoltura, 00015 Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
Interests: fish and crustacean nutrition; precision aquaculture; management of fish resources; sustainable aquaculture
Dr. Giulia Secci

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Dipartimento di Scienze e Tecnologie Agrarie, Università degli Studi di Firenze, Alimentari, Ambientali e Forestali, 50121 Firenze, Italy
Interests: aquaculture; alternative protein sources; fish welfare; fillet quality; fish processing and preservation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Pressure on aquatic natural resources has increased due to the fast-growing global population and a new lifestyle trend which is transitioning the dietary habits of the population towards even more protein-rich diets. As a result of overfishing, the gap between demand and supply of aquatic animal proteins will need to be fulfilled in the next few decades by aquaculture production. However, further and faster development of the aquaculture sector presents new and challenging targets, such as the necessity for greater production while reducing global greenhouse gas emissions, avoiding the depletion of natural resources, safeguarding animal welfare and biodiversity, and reducing its environmental impact. Recently, the European Green Deal and the Farm to Fork Strategy underlined the potential of farmed seafood as a source of protein for food and feed with a low-carbon footprint, which has an important current and future role in helping to build a sustainable food system. Aquaculture could be pivotal, among animal production sectors, in decarbonizing the economy, mitigating climate change impacts, and contributing to preserving ecosystems.

However, even if significant efforts towards the development of sustainable aquaculture were introduced continent- and nation-wide, the sector would still fall short of its full potential in terms of growth and meeting the increasing demand for more sustainable and high-quality seafood. Thus, further research is crucial to boost sustainable fish, crustacean, shellfish, and algae production.

This Special Issue will highlight original research and reviews regarding the sustainable development of aquaculture, according to the principles of the 2030 Agenda and the EU’s strategic guidelines for the period from 2021 to 2030 (COM(2021) 236 final). Topics of interest include:

  • Setting up of good husbandry practices and technologies tailored to each aquaculture species;
  • Developing strategies for the reduction in pharmaceuticals, which may damage the environment or contribute to antimicrobial resistance;
  • Fulfilling research gaps on the potential impact of climate change on fish, crustaceans, and shellfish production;
  • Quantifying climate mitigation or climate adaptation services of certain typologies of aquaculture, such as the cultivation of seaweed and mollusks;
  • Increasing diversification, not only in the farming of promising new species (e.g., non-fed and low-trophic species with a lower environmental footprint), but also in production methods (e.g. polyculture in pond aquaculture, integrated multi-trophic aquaculture).

Papers on the above topics, as well as those presenting other related arguments, including both specialized and interdisciplinary manuscripts, are welcome.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Domitilla Pulcini
Dr. Fabrizio Capoccioni
Dr. Giulia Secci
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainable aquaculture
  • shellfish farming
  • carbon sequestration
  • carbon footprint
  • climate change mitigation
  • innovation and technological transfer
  • resilience
  • diversification
  • biodiversity
  • circular management of resources
  • integrated multitrophic aquaculture

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

17 pages, 3194 KiB  
Article
Do Sustainably Reared Marine Sponges Represent A Potential New Product in Aquariology? A Citizen Science-Based Approach
by Joseba Aguilo-Arce, Antonella Schiavo, Roberta Trani and Caterina Longo
Sustainability 2024, 16(3), 1066; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16031066 - 26 Jan 2024
Viewed by 624
Abstract
Marine sponges have historically been targeted for different purposes, mainly as bath sponges or more recently as a source of bioactive metabolites. However, their use as ornamental species for aquariology is less thoroughly studied. In light of the rise in the importance of [...] Read more.
Marine sponges have historically been targeted for different purposes, mainly as bath sponges or more recently as a source of bioactive metabolites. However, their use as ornamental species for aquariology is less thoroughly studied. In light of the rise in the importance of sustainable production systems and to valorize the biomass obtained from them, this work assessed the market potential of sustainably reared marine sponges in Italian aquariology. Information was obtained by means of an anonymous questionnaire distributed using social media and printed QR codes targeting Italian aquariophily groups. A total of 101 people from almost all Italian regions participated in the study. Among the people with marine aquariums, almost two-thirds had marine sponges (obtained mainly from fishing discards and trusted shops), and those without them stated that there was no availability in the specialized shops. However, when people were asked about a hypothetical change in purchase intention or frequency of these invertebrates, 68.3% of the respondents showed a positive attitude toward the idea of acquisition. This study constitutes the first preliminary assessment of the valorization potential for sustainably cultivated sponges as ornamental species, which shows a promising prospective in the Italian aquariology sector. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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24 pages, 4932 KiB  
Article
A Comparison of Multiple Macroalgae Cultivation Systems and End-Use Strategies of Saccharina latissima and Gracilaria tikvahiae Based on Techno-Economic Analysis and Life Cycle Assessment
by Jingjing Wu, Shane W. Rogers, Rebekah Schaummann and Nichole N. Price
Sustainability 2023, 15(15), 12072; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151512072 - 7 Aug 2023
Viewed by 1815
Abstract
Macroalgae can be processed into various products with the potential to substitute land-based crops; their cultivation can bioextract nutrients from coastal waters. This study investigated the economic cost and environmental impacts of multiple seaweed cultivation platforms, cultivation strategies, and processing/end-use strategies through techno-economic [...] Read more.
Macroalgae can be processed into various products with the potential to substitute land-based crops; their cultivation can bioextract nutrients from coastal waters. This study investigated the economic cost and environmental impacts of multiple seaweed cultivation platforms, cultivation strategies, and processing/end-use strategies through techno-economic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA) with a focus on Saccharina latissima and Gracilaria tikvahiae. Cultivation platforms included single-layer longline, dual-layer longline, single-layer strip, and dual-layer strip systems. Processing/end-use products included seaweed to biofuel, dried sea vegetables, marketable commercial fertilizer, and animal feed. Economic and environmental costs decreased with dual-layer and strip cultivation systems. Cultivation costs were highest using the common single-layer longline system ($4.44 kg−1 dry weight (dw) S. latissima and $6.73 kg−1 dw G. tikvahiae when cultivated on rotation). The use of the dual-layer strip system reduced cultivation costs to $2.19 kg−1 dw for S. latissima and $3.43 kg−1 dw for G. tikvahiae. Seaweed drying was the major contributor to economic and environmental costs for macroalgae processing. Yet, all scenarios achieved environmental benefits for marine eutrophication. The best environmental performance was observed when biomass was processed to dry sea vegetables, assuming the offset of land-based vegetable production, or used as biofeedstock for anaerobic digestion for combined heat and power. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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14 pages, 17128 KiB  
Article
A Predictive Model for the Bioaccumulation of Okadaic Acid in Mytilus galloprovincialis Farmed in the Northern Adriatic Sea: A Tool to Reduce Product Losses and Improve Mussel Farming Sustainability
by Fabrizio Capoccioni, Laura Bille, Federica Colombo, Lidia Contiero, Arianna Martini, Carmine Mattia, Riccardo Napolitano, Nicolò Tonachella, Marica Toson and Domitilla Pulcini
Sustainability 2023, 15(11), 8608; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15118608 - 25 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1152
Abstract
Over the last decades, harmful dinoflagellate (Dinophysis spp.) blooms have increased in frequency, duration, and severity in the Mediterranean Sea. Farmed bivalves, by ingesting large amounts of phytoplankton, can become unsafe for human consumption due to the bioaccumulation of okadaic acid (OA), [...] Read more.
Over the last decades, harmful dinoflagellate (Dinophysis spp.) blooms have increased in frequency, duration, and severity in the Mediterranean Sea. Farmed bivalves, by ingesting large amounts of phytoplankton, can become unsafe for human consumption due to the bioaccumulation of okadaic acid (OA), causing Diarrhetic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP). Whenever the OA concentration in shellfish farmed in a specific area exceeds the established legal limit (160 μg·kg−1 of OA equivalents), harvesting activities are compulsorily suspended. This study aimed at developing a machine learning (ML) predictive model for OA bioaccumulation in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) farmed in the coastal area off the Po River Delta (Veneto, Italy), based on oceanographic data measured through remote sensing and data deriving from the monitoring activities performed by official veterinarian authorities to verify the bioaccumulation of OA in the shellfish production sites. LightGBM was used as an ML algorithm. The results of the classification algorithm on the test set showed an accuracy of 82%. Further analyses showed that false negatives were mainly associated with relatively low levels of toxins (<100 μg·kg−1), since the algorithm tended to classify low concentrations of OA as negative samples, while true positives had higher mean values of toxins (139 μg·kg−1). The results of the model could be used to build up an online early warning system made available to shellfish farmers of the study area, aimed at increasing the economic and environmental sustainability of these production activities and reducing the risk of massive product losses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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23 pages, 4988 KiB  
Article
Impact of Effective Microorganisms and Chlorella vulgaris on Eriocheir sinensis and Water Microbiota in Ponds Experiencing Cyanobacterial Blooms
by Jiancao Gao, Nailin Shao, Yi Sun, Zhijuan Nie, Xiwei Yang, Fei Dai, Gangchun Xu and Pao Xu
Sustainability 2023, 15(9), 7362; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15097362 - 28 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1181
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms threaten the quality and safety of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. A combination of microalgae and probiotics seems a promising way to prevent and control cyanobacterial blooms in aquaculture ponds. In E. sinensis cultivation, however, a related strategy is [...] Read more.
Cyanobacterial blooms threaten the quality and safety of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis. A combination of microalgae and probiotics seems a promising way to prevent and control cyanobacterial blooms in aquaculture ponds. In E. sinensis cultivation, however, a related strategy is still lacking. To assess the potential combined effects of effective microorganisms (EM) and Chlorella vulgaris on regulating cyanobacterial blooms, in this study, we detected the alterations in the physiology of E. sinensis, as well as water quality and microbial compositions of E. sinensis culture ponds with cyanobacterial blooms. As a result, supplementary EM and C. vulgaris had no adverse effects on the growth or digestive or antioxidant ability of E. sinensis but improved the water quality of the pond by reducing total ammonia nitrogen and total nitrogen levels. We found an increase in bacterial diversity and evenness, while a decrease in the diversity of fungal and phytoplankton communities was related to supplementary EM and C. vulgaris. Interestingly, EM coupling C. vulgaris promoted the restoration of the bacterial and fungal community composition in cyanobacterial blooms ponds, particularly the increase of Mychonastes abundance and the decrease of Cyclotella. This study laid the foundation for the prevention and control of potential risks in aquaculture. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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9 pages, 650 KiB  
Communication
Is Manila Clam Farming Environmentally Sustainable? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach Applied to an Italian Ruditapes philippinarum Hatchery
by Arianna Martini, Leonardo Aguiari, Fabrizio Capoccioni, Marco Martinoli, Riccardo Napolitano, Giacomo Pirlo, Nicolò Tonachella and Domitilla Pulcini
Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3237; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043237 - 10 Feb 2023
Viewed by 1740
Abstract
Italy supplies approximately 96% of EU-farmed Manila clams. Following a reduction in wild seed availability, farmers started to depend on hatchery-produced seed, mainly imported from other countries. Indeed, only one hatchery is currently operating in Italy. This study quantifies the environmental impacts of [...] Read more.
Italy supplies approximately 96% of EU-farmed Manila clams. Following a reduction in wild seed availability, farmers started to depend on hatchery-produced seed, mainly imported from other countries. Indeed, only one hatchery is currently operating in Italy. This study quantifies the environmental impacts of seed production in this Italian hatchery facility to inform future planning for improving the sustainability of the supply chain. The environmental performance of the Manila clam hatchery was evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment methodology. A cradle-to-gate analysis was performed, covering the following production phases: (1) microalgae production, (2) broodstock maintenance and conditioning, and (3) larval rearing until marketable size. The functional unit adopted was 1 kg of live clam seed. The main driver of the environmental impacts was electricity consumption, contributing over 80% for all impact categories. Other inputs showed minor contributions to different impact categories, including liquid oxygen, water pumps, and high-density polyethylene. This study highlights that the environmental burden associated with seed production could be reduced by switching to alternative technologies to meet energy needs, such as investments in photovoltaic and wind energy production systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Trends and Perspectives in Sustainable Aquaculture)
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