Aquaculture presents a transformative opportunity for climate mitigation through blue carbon pathways, complementing traditional natural carbon sinks. Both coastal and inland culture systems, including mangroves, silvofisheries, seaweed farms, shellfish aquaculture and freshwater pond sediments demonstrate substantial carbon sequestration potential while delivering co-benefits such as biodiversity enhancement, coastal protection, water quality improvement, and sustainable livelihoods.
Blue carbon aquaculture provides a unique opportunity to address multiple challenges simultaneously: mitigating climate change, restoring degraded ecosystems, improving water quality, supporting biodiversity, and enhancing livelihoods. Integrated, science-based, and socially inclusive approaches are essential to realize these benefits at scale. By bridging food security, ecosystem restoration, and climate action, blue carbon aquaculture can serve as a cornerstone of sustainable coastal and inland resource management, contributing to resilient and low-carbon development pathways worldwide.
Blue carbon aquaculture is affiliated to SDG 1 by alleviating poverty through the support of coastal livelihoods; SDG 2 by instilling food security through protein production thereby achieving SDG 3 – good health and wellbeing, through feeding on nutritious food; SDG 8 through the availability of decent work and economic growth by providing jobs in the blue sector of the economy; SDG 13 – Climate Action, as a result of reduction of adverse environmental impacts due to carbon sequestration and SDG 14, sustaining life below water through the sustenance and protection of marine habitat.
Ultimately, positioning aquaculture as a nature-based climate solution offers a pathway toward low-carbon, resilient and productive food systems, aligning food security with global climate mitigation goals.BOOK CHAPTERS 2026 READY.docx 11
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