Carbon footprint in aquaculture and mitigation strategies

Abstract

Aquaculture has emerged as the fastest-growing food production sector globally and plays a critical role in meeting future protein demand. Alongside its benefits for food and nutritional security, concerns have grown regarding its contribution to climate change through greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although aquaculture generally exhibits a lower carbon footprint than many terrestrial livestock systems, emissions vary widely depending on species, culture system, feed composition, energy use, and management practices. This article synthesizes research published from 2015 onward to examine the sources of carbon emissions in aquaculture and evaluate mitigation strategies capable of reducing its climate impact. Emphasis is placed on life cycle assessment (LCA) studies, species- and system-level comparisons, technological innovations, and policy-relevant interventions. The review highlights that feed production, on-farm energy use, and pond emissions are the primary contributors to aquaculture-related GHGs, while mitigation pathways such as feed reformulation, Integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), renewable energy adoption, and expansion of low-trophic farming (bivalves and seaweed) offer substantial opportunities for emission reduction. Strengthening measurement frameworks and supporting farmer-level adoption are essential for transitioning toward climate-resilient and low-carbon aquaculture systems.