Deep Dives
Thought-provoking research providing extensive learning opportunities

‘Aquafeed 3.0’: creating a more resilient aquaculture industry with a circular bioeconomy framework

Stefanie M. Colombo & Giovanni M. Turchini, Reviews in Aquaculture Fisheries & Aquaculture

As aquaculture continues to grow, so does the requirement for environmentally sustainable and cost‐effective aquafeed. With an expected increase in aquafeed demand, it is important (now more than ever) to investigate and utilize new aquafeed ingredients that do not deplete natural resources and, instead, may have positive impacts to help control climate change.

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COP26 and the ocean-climate nexus

World Ocean Initiative, The Economist Group

An open letter by Peter Thomson, UN Special Envoy for the Ocean, to Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC

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CREO Investment Report Release: Aquaculture Value Chain

Gracie White & Maggie Fried, CREO Fisheries & Aquaculture

Learn about each segment of the sustainable aquaculture value chain in the U.S. and Europe, including growth catalysts, risks, capital needs, and considerations for driving investment impact.

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The Second World Ocean Assessment (Volume II)

United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.

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The Second World Ocean Assessment (Volume I)

United Nations Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture Plastics & Pollution Shipping & Ports Tourism

The Second World Ocean Assessment (WOA II) is the major output of the second cycle of the Regular Process for Global Reporting and Assessment of the States of the Marine Environment, including Socioeconomic Aspects. It is the newest outcome of the only integrated assessment of the world’s ocean at the global level covering environmental, economic and social aspects.

Read more → (more than an hour read)


Cities Confront Climate Challenge: How to Move from Gas to Electricity?

Jonathan Mingle, Yale Environment 360 Energy Solutions

Ending the use of fossil fuels to heat homes and buildings is a key challenge for cities hoping to achieve net-zero emissions.

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The Potential of Zero-Carbon Bunker Fuels in Developing Countries

Englert, D. et al., The World Bank Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Across the maritime industry, there is general agreement that shipping must undergo a rapid energy transition. This implies a shift from fossil bunker fuels, such as the predominant heavy fuel oil (HFO), to a new generation of alternative bunker fuels.

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A case for seaweed aquaculture inclusion in U.S. nutrient pollution management

Racine, P. et al., Marine Policy Fisheries & Aquaculture

Seaweed aquaculture is capable of removing large quantities of nitrogen and phosphorus from coastal ecosystems, yet seaweed has gained little traction for its potential role in targeted nutrient assimilation.

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A Safety Net for Ocean Fisheries: The Case for Stronger Protection of Essential Fish Habitat Under the Magnuson-Stevens Act

Brad Sewell & Molly Masterton, NRDC Fisheries & Aquaculture

NRDC conducted a detailed review, including geospatial analysis and mapping, of how each of the eight federal regional management councils (councils) have implemented the Magnuson-Stevens Act’s requirement to designate and minimize harms from fishing to “essential fish habitat” or EFH.

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Animal welfare risks of global aquaculture

Franks, B. et al., Applied Ecology Fisheries & Aquaculture

The unprecedented growth of aquaculture involves well-documented environmental and public-health costs, but less is understood about global animal welfare risks.

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In Hotter Climate, 'Zombie' Urchins Are Winning And Kelp Forests Are Losing

Lauren Sommer, NPR Fisheries & Aquaculture

They're purple, spiky and voracious, and just off the West Coast, there are more of them than you can count.

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Pandemic Pollution: The Rising Tide of Plastic PPE

Ocean Conservancy Plastics & Pollution

Volunteers removed 107,219 items of personal protective equipment (PPE) from beaches and waterways worldwide in second half of 2020. 

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Coast-wide evidence of low pH amelioration by seagrass ecosystems

Ricart, A.M. et al., Global Change Biology

Global‐scale ocean acidification has spurred interest in the capacity of seagrass ecosystems to increase seawater pH within crucial shoreline habitats through photosynthetic activity. 

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Gauging Economic Consensus on Climate Change

Peter Howard & Derek Sylvan, Institute for Policy Integrity Energy Solutions

Thousands of economists have spent years or decades studying the interaction between climate change and the economic systems that underlie modern life. The views of these experts can help clarify how climate change will likely affect our society and economy, and how policymakers should approach greenhouse gas emission reduction efforts.

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A 20-year retrospective review of global aquaculture

Naylor, R.L. et al., Nature Fisheries & Aquaculture

The sustainability of aquaculture has been debated intensely since 2000, when a review on the net contribution of aquaculture to world fish supplies was published in Nature. This paper reviews the developments in global aquaculture from 1997 to 2017, incorporating all industry sub-sectors and highlighting the integration of aquaculture in the global food system.

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Exploring the future of fishery conflict through narrative scenarios

Spijkers, J. et al., One Earth Fisheries & Aquaculture

Disruptive changes in our global ocean and fisheries have sparked warnings of an increase in fishery conflicts. However, such environmental changes have not yet been considered in tandem with other critical social, economic, and political trends for mapping out possible future trajectories for fishery conflict.

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Ocean Knowledge for a Sustainable Ocean Economy: Synergies between the Ocean Decade and the Outcomes of the Ocean Panel

IOC-UNESCO

A recent analysis prepared by IOC-UNESCO explores tangible ways in which linkages between the Ocean Decade, with its vision of the ‘science we need for the ocean we want’, and the Ocean Panel, with its aims of ‘safeguarding the long-term health and resilience of the ocean’, can be leveraged and optimized.

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Enabling conditions for an equitable and sustainable blue economy

Cisneros-Montemayor, A.M. et al., Nature

The future of the global ocean economy is currently envisioned as advancing towards a ‘blue economy’—socially equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically viable ocean industries. However, tensions exist within sustainable development approaches, arising from differing perspectives framed around natural capital or social equity.

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Red seaweed (Asparagopsis taxiformis) supplementation reduces enteric methane by over 80 percent in beef steers

Roque, BM et al., PLoS ONE Energy Solutions Fisheries & Aquaculture

Livestock production, particularly ruminants, contributes to anthropogenic greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally. These emissions are estimated to be 7.1 Gt carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents annually which accounts for approximately 14.5% of the global anthropogenic GHG emissions. The majority of GHG emissions from livestock production is in the form of methane (CH4), which is produced largely through enteric fermentation and to a lesser extent manure decomposition.

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New age of sail looks to slash massive maritime carbon emissions

Andrew Willner, Mongabay Energy Solutions Shipping & Ports

Today, startup companies like Fair Transport (with its retrofitted wooden vessels Tres Hombres and Nordlys); modest sized proof-of-concept firms, with purpose-built vessels like Grain de Sail; and large cargo ship retrofits and purpose-built vessels like Neoline’s new large cargo vessels, are starting to address CO2 emissions.

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