ORCID
- L Mascorda-Cabre: 0000-0002-1852-0528
- Phil Hosegood: 0000-0002-4415-7152
- Martin J. Attrill: 0000-0002-4039-031X
- Emma V. Sheehan: 0000-0002-1066-8237
Abstract
With a growing human population and the need to protect our oceans from overfishing, there is a requirement for society to source alternative means of sustainable protein. Mussel aquaculture has rapidly expanded in many countries serving as an important supply of protein, but its development has been limited due to competition for coastal space and the associated environmental impacts of farming in inshore waters. Offshore aquaculture developments have the potential to overcome such issues. This review synthesises the current literature on the ecological and oceanographic interactions of longline offshore mussel farms with the aim to elucidate the main knowledge gaps in a context of management and conservation. Large offshore aquaculture installations interact with the hydrodynamics of the area causing water flow distortions and current attenuation, wake formation and distorting water column stratification which can have an effect on the supply of nutrient and seston as well as altering material dispersal, biodeposition and resuspension, having in turn, a knock-on effect on the carrying capacity of the system, ultimately affecting the surrounding ecology and its ecosystem services. Offshore mussel farm studies report an increase biomass or numbers of benthic and pelagic organisms beneath and around mussel ropes relative to control sites using the structure for shelter, refuge and nursery. Improving our understanding of offshore aquaculture–environment interactions is crucial to identify the priorities needed for future research to inform policy and management practices as well as its role as part of the Blue Growth Agenda and as ‘other effective area-based conservation measures’ (OECMs).
DOI Link
Publication Date
2021-09-01
Publication Title
Reviews in Aquaculture
Volume
13
Issue
4
ISSN
1753-5123
Acceptance Date
2021-02-07
Deposit Date
2021-08-02
Embargo Period
2021-03-25
Funding
The authors would like to thank Offshore Shellfish Ltd. for funding this work and providing knowledge and insights into offshore aquaculture practices. The authors are grateful to the editor and four anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments that improved this review.
Keywords
Aquaculture, Blue Growth, Ecology, MPAs, Mussel Farm, Oceanography
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.
First Page
1864
Last Page
1887
Recommended Citation
Mascorda-Cabre, L., Hosegood, P., Attrill, M., Bridger, D., & Sheehan, E. (2021) 'Offshore longline mussel farms: a review of oceanographic and ecological interactions to inform future research needs, policy and management', Reviews in Aquaculture, 13(4), pp. 1864-1887. Available at: 10.1111/raq.12549
