Bivalve Aquaculture for Carbon Sequestration
Summary
Bivalve aquaculture has attracted interest both as a source of sustainable protein and for its potential role in coastal carbon dynamics. As filter feeders, oysters, mussels and clams remove particulates and cycle nutrients, while the formation of calcium carbonate shells represents a biogenic carbon flux. Research has explored whether shell deposition and associated biogeochemical interactions can contribute to atmospheric CO₂ removal or whether respiratory and calcification processes offset any sequestration. The carbon budget of bivalve systems encompasses uptake of dissolved inorganic carbon, releases associated with metabolism and shell formation, and the fate of organic and inorganic carbon in sediments. Locally, shellfish farms can influence alkalinity, pH and CO₂ partial pressure, with integrated multi-trophic approaches deploying macroalgae to sequester additional CO₂ and mitigate acidification. At regional scales, modelled and empirical studies assess carbon sink potential against ecosystem benefits, informing policy for blue carbon accounting and mariculture management worldwide.
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Bivalve Aquaculture for Carbon Sequestration publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in bivalve aquaculture for carbon sequestration across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Carbon sequestration: Long-term capture and storage of atmospheric carbon dioxide in biological or geological reservoirs.
Calcification: Process by which bivalves precipitate calcium carbonate to form shells, releasing carbon dioxide into seawater.
Dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC): Sum of CO₂, bicarbonate and carbonate ions present in the water column.
Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA): System that co-cultures species from different trophic levels, such as shellfish and macroalgae, to recycle nutrients and enhance ecosystem services.
References
- Cracking the myth: Bivalve farming is not a CO2 sink. Reviews in Aquaculture (2024).
- A global review of the ecosystem services provided by bivalve aquaculture. Reviews in Aquaculture (2018).
- Interactive effects of oyster and seaweed on seawater dissolved inorganic carbon systems: implications for integrated multi-trophic aquaculture. Aquaculture Environment Interactions (2017).
- The influence of mussel restoration on coastal carbon cycling. Global Change Biology (2022).
- Assessing the carbon sink capacity of coastal mariculture shellfish resources in China from 1981–2020. Frontiers in Marine Science (2022).
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