Impacts of climate change on aquaculture

Citation

Collins C, Bresnan E, Brown L, Falconer L, Guilder J, Jones L, Kennerley A, Malham S, Murray A & Stanley M (2020) Impacts of climate change on aquaculture. In: MCCIP Science Review 2020. Lowestoft: Marine Climate Change Impacts, p. 482–520. http://archive.mccip.org.uk/media/2031/21_aquaculture_2020.pdf; https://doi.org/10.14465/2020.arc21.aqu

Abstract
Aquaculture is a significant industry in UK coastal waters, with annual turnover valued at more than £1.8bn. It particularly important in western and northern Scotland. • Aquaculture is sensitive to the marine environment and changes therein. • The dominant contribution of a single species (Atlantic salmon) to production tonnage and value potentially increases vulnerability to climate change. • Temperature increase is expected to increase growth rates for most species farmed. • Increased problems associated with some diseases and parasites, notably sea lice and gill disease (which has emerged as a serious problem), are likely to increase in the short term and to get worse in the longer term. Impacts may be synergistic. • Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) and jellyfish swarms/invasions may also get worse, however complex ecosystem interactions make responses uncertain. • The situation for shellfish is similar to finfish, although they are additionally at risk of accumulation of toxins from HABs, and recruitment failure, and, in the longer term, to sea-level rises and ocean acidification. • Technical and management changes in the rapidly evolving aquaculture industry make long-term impacts of climate change difficult to forecast.

People

Dr Lynne Falconer

Research Fellow, Institute of Aquaculture