A school of parore fish swim alongside mussels. Photo: The University of Auckland

In celebration of 2024 World Ocean Day, we are featuring APRU member, The University of Auckland, to promote and inspire action for our oceans & climate. A collaborative research project between Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland and the University of New England has shown environmental gains from aquaculture are possible.

The study, supported by The Nature Conservancy in New Zealand and Maine, compared fish and invertebrate populations at farmed and non-farmed sites in New Zealand’s Hauraki Gulf and the Gulf of Maine in the US.

The findings suggest that mussel and seaweed farming can enhance wild fish populations and biodiversity by serving as habitats for marine species, as well as providing food for people.

 “Fish populations found on mussel and kelp-mussel farms in the Hauraki Gulf were equal to or greater than those at the non-farm sites, in both diversity and abundance,” said Andrew Jeffs, Professor of Marine Science of the University of Auckland. Additionally, snapper at farm sites had more nutritious diets compared to those in the wild.

“These farms can offer crucial settlement and nursery habitats, enhancing biodiversity and fishery productivity,” he added. See this video for further information.

Professor Andrews Jeffs of The University of Auckland. Photo: The University of Auckland

Dr Rob Major from The Nature Conservancy Aotearoa New Zealand emphasised the significance of this project in filling a knowledge gap regarding the habitat benefits of commercial aquaculture, particularly in cold water ecosystems like those in Maine and New Zealand.

The research also suggests that aquaculture can support environmental restoration and community development by providing employment and boosting the local economy. Dr Carrie Byron from the University of New England mentioned that while farm ecosystems are not substitutes for wild ones, they can provide regenerative benefits that help mitigate climate impacts.

While this and other research shows that kelp and shellfish farms can provide important ecosystem benefits, the future of the industry depends on social acceptability and the perceived value consumers may place on ecosystem services provided by aquaculture.

To better understand this, researchers from University of New England, University of Massachusetts, and Stanford University asked U.S. consumers what price they would be willing to pay for a range of seaweed products. The study found that consumers would pay more for seaweed products after learning about their environmental benefits.

World Ocean Day, powered by the World Ocean Day Youth Advisory Council on June 8 and year round, catalyzes collective action for a healthy ocean and a stable climate. The APRU Annual Presidents’ Meeting, for its part, will be held June 24-26 on the shores of the Pacific Ocean in Tāmaki Makaurau (the Māori name for Auckland). Hosted by the University of Auckland under the theme “Oceans – The World’s Challenges Divide Us, the Ocean Currents Connect Us”, the event will explore and exchange knowledge and insights to consider the impacts of climate change on the oceans and the implications for communities and indigenous populations, climate justice, as well as food and water security.