Document Type

Article

Authors

R. Filgueira, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Science BranchFollow
C J. Byron, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Science Center, University of New England
L A. Comeau, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Science Branch
B Costa-Pierce, Department of Marine Sciences, Marine Science Center, University of New England
P J. Cranford, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography
J G. Ferreira, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Sciences and Technology, New University of Lisbon
J Grant, Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University
T Guyondet, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Science Branch
H M. Jansen, Institute of Marine Research; Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES)
T Landry, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Science Branch
C W. McKindsey, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Maurice-Lamontagne Institute, Ocean and Environmental Sciences Division
J K. Petersen, The Danish Shellfish Centre—DTU Aqua
G K. Reid, Canadian Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture Network (CIMTAN), University of New Brunswick; Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews Biological Station
S. M.C. Robinson, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, St. Andrews Biological Station
A Smaal, Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies (IMARES)
R Sonier, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Gulf Fisheries Centre, Science Branch
Ø Strand, Institute of Marine Research
T Strohmeier, Institute of Marine Research

Editor

Matthias Seaman, Oldendorf/Luhe, Germany

Publication Title

Marine Ecology Progress Series

Publisher

Inter-Research

Rights and Access Note

© Inter-Research and Fisheries and Oceans Canada 2015 · www.int-res.com

Publication Date

1-7-2015

First Page

281

Last Page

287

Volume Number

518

Abstract/ Summary

The role of bivalve mariculture in the CO2 cycle has been commonly evaluated as the balance between respiration, shell calcium carbonate sequestration and CO2 release during biogenic calcification. However, this approach neglects the ecosystem implications of cultivating bivalves at high densities, e.g. the impact on phytoplankton dynamics and benthic-pelagic coupling, which can significantly contribute to the CO2 cycle. Therefore, an ecosystem approach that accounts for the trophic interactions of bivalve aquaculture, including dissolved and particulate organic and inorganic carbon cycling, is needed to provide a rigorous assessment of the role of bivalve mariculture in the CO2 cycle. On the other hand, the discussion about the inclusion of shells of cultured bivalves into the carbon trading system should be framed within the context of ecosystem goods and services. Humans culture bivalves with the aim of producing food, not sequestering CO2 in their shells, therefore the main ecosystem good provided by bivalve aquaculture is meat production, and shells should be considered as by-products of this human activity. This reasoning provides justification for dividing up respired CO2 between meat and shell when constructing a specific bivalve CO2 budget for potential use of bivalve shells in the carbon trading system. Thus, an integrated ecosystem approach, as well as an understanding of the ecosystems goods and services of bivalve aquaculture, are 2 essential requisites for providing a reliable assessment of the role of bivalve shells in the CO2 cycle.

Citation/Publisher Attribution

Filgueira R, Byron CJ, Comeau LA, Costa-Pierce B and others (2015) An integrated ecosystem approach for assessing the potential role of cultivated bivalve shells as part of the carbon trading system. Mar Ecol Prog Ser 518:281-287. https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11048

DOI

https://doi.org/10.3354/meps11048

Version

publisher's version of the published document

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Rights Statement

In Copyright