Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming
Marine algae, both macro and micro, have gained increasing attention for their numerous ecosystem service functions, such as food and raw materials provision and climate change mitigation. Currently, the practice of large-scale algae farming is limited to Asian waters, but significant interest has a...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Environmental Research Letters |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acd398 |
| _version_ | 1797747332396089344 |
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| author | Yue Liu Ling Cao William W L Cheung U Rashid Sumaila |
| author_facet | Yue Liu Ling Cao William W L Cheung U Rashid Sumaila |
| author_sort | Yue Liu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Marine algae, both macro and micro, have gained increasing attention for their numerous ecosystem service functions, such as food and raw materials provision and climate change mitigation. Currently, the practice of large-scale algae farming is limited to Asian waters, but significant interest has arisen from other continents. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the areas with suitable environmental conditions for expanding algae farming on a global scale. Previous studies have primarily focused on nutrient availability and thermal constraints when assessing the potential for algae culture. This study uses species distribution models based on an ensemble consensus approach to determine the extent of suitable areas and takes into account multiple environmental factors that may affect the feasibility of algae culture. Our results show that approximately 20.8 million km ^2 of the ocean (∼13.8% of the economic exclusive zones) is suitable for farming marine algae species, with most potential areas located near the coastline. Surprisingly, four out of the top five countries with the largest area suitable for seaweed farming, including Australia, Russia, Canada, and the US, account for 30% of the total suitable areas, yet they currently produce less than 1% of the global seaweed. Several species show promising characteristics for large-scale cultivation, but their viability for commercial production remains uncertain and subject to further assessment of economic feasibility and social acceptance. Further research on the ecological benefits of seaweed farming could also promote the development of an ecologically friendly and financially viable algae mariculture industry. This study provides a scientific basis for decision-makers to understand potential expansion areas and feasible pathways for seaweed farming, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the sustainable utilization of marine resources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:49:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be1016b0032d497d9ca49e600b73d95b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1748-9326 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T15:49:16Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Letters |
| spelling | doaj.art-be1016b0032d497d9ca49e600b73d95b2023-08-09T15:17:40ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Letters1748-93262023-01-0118606402810.1088/1748-9326/acd398Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farmingYue Liu0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9636-3655Ling Cao1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0456-0518William W L Cheung2U Rashid Sumaila3School of Oceanography, Shanghai Jiao Tong University , Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaState Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University , Xiamen, People’s Republic of ChinaInstitute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, CanadaSchool of Public Policy and Global Affairs, The University of British Columbia , Vancouver, BC, CanadaMarine algae, both macro and micro, have gained increasing attention for their numerous ecosystem service functions, such as food and raw materials provision and climate change mitigation. Currently, the practice of large-scale algae farming is limited to Asian waters, but significant interest has arisen from other continents. However, there is a lack of knowledge about the areas with suitable environmental conditions for expanding algae farming on a global scale. Previous studies have primarily focused on nutrient availability and thermal constraints when assessing the potential for algae culture. This study uses species distribution models based on an ensemble consensus approach to determine the extent of suitable areas and takes into account multiple environmental factors that may affect the feasibility of algae culture. Our results show that approximately 20.8 million km ^2 of the ocean (∼13.8% of the economic exclusive zones) is suitable for farming marine algae species, with most potential areas located near the coastline. Surprisingly, four out of the top five countries with the largest area suitable for seaweed farming, including Australia, Russia, Canada, and the US, account for 30% of the total suitable areas, yet they currently produce less than 1% of the global seaweed. Several species show promising characteristics for large-scale cultivation, but their viability for commercial production remains uncertain and subject to further assessment of economic feasibility and social acceptance. Further research on the ecological benefits of seaweed farming could also promote the development of an ecologically friendly and financially viable algae mariculture industry. This study provides a scientific basis for decision-makers to understand potential expansion areas and feasible pathways for seaweed farming, with the ultimate goal of ensuring the sustainable utilization of marine resources.https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acd398seaweedmariculturehabitat suitabilityspecies distribution modelingensemble consensusexpansion |
| spellingShingle | Yue Liu Ling Cao William W L Cheung U Rashid Sumaila Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming Environmental Research Letters seaweed mariculture habitat suitability species distribution modeling ensemble consensus expansion |
| title | Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| title_full | Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| title_fullStr | Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| title_full_unstemmed | Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| title_short | Global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| title_sort | global estimates of suitable areas for marine algae farming |
| topic | seaweed mariculture habitat suitability species distribution modeling ensemble consensus expansion |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/acd398 |
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