Assessing the potential for sea-based macroalgae cultivation and its application for nutrient removal in the Baltic Sea
2022 (English)In: Science of the Total Environment, ISSN 0048-9697, E-ISSN 1879-1026, Vol. 839, p. 156230-, article id 156230Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]
Marine eutrophication is a pervasive and growing threat to global sustainability. Macroalgal cultivation is a promising circular economy solution to achieve nutrient reduction and food security. However, the location of production hotspots is not well known. In this paper the production potential of macroalgae of high commercial value was predicted across the Baltic Sea region. In addition, the nutrient limitation within and adjacent to macroalgal farms was investigated to suggest optimal site-specific configuration of farms. The production potential of Saccharina latissima was largely driven by salinity and the highest production yields are expected in the westernmost Baltic Sea areas where salinity is > 23. The direct and interactive effects of light availability, temperature, salinity and nutrient concentrations regulated the predicted changes in the production of Ulva intestinalis and Fucus vesiculosus. The western and southern Baltic Sea exhibited the highest farming potential for these species, with promising areas also in the eastern Baltic Sea. Macroalgal farming did not induce significant nutrient limitation. The expected spatial propagation of nutrient limitation caused by macroalgal farming was less than 100-250 m. Higher propagation distances were found in areas of low nutrient and low water exchange (e.g. offshore areas in the Baltic Proper) and smaller distances in areas of high nutrient and high water exchange (e.g. western Baltic Sea and Gulf of Riga). The generated maps provide the most sought-after input to support blue growth initiatives that foster the sustainable development of macroalgal cultivation and reduction of in situ nutrient loads in the Baltic Sea.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Elsevier BV , 2022. Vol. 839, p. 156230-, article id 156230
Keywords [en]
Seaweed farming, Aquaculture, Blue growth, Eutrophication control
National Category
Fish and Aquacultural Science
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-315346DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156230ISI: 000811732300010PubMedID: 35643144Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-85131147366OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-315346DiVA, id: diva2:1680533
Note
Correction in: Science of The Total Environment, vol. 901. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165870, WOS: 001057609500001 , Scopus: 2-s2.0-85171617312”
QC 20220704
2022-07-042022-07-042023-10-16Bibliographically approved