2018-水产养殖和海洋保护区_发掘潜在机会和协同效应（英文版）-3mb

Summary of Aquaculture and Marine Protected Areas: Exploring Potential Opportunities and Synergies

Core Content

This document explores the potential opportunities and synergies between aquaculture and Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the context of global sustainable development goals and biodiversity conservation targets. It emphasizes the need to integrate aquaculture into MPAs in a way that supports both ecological and socio-economic objectives.

Main Viewpoints

• Aquaculture's Role in Sustainable Development: Aquaculture is a critical component in meeting global food security and sustainable development goals (SDG 2 and SDG 14). It has become a major source of seafood, especially since 2014, and contributes significantly to economic resilience and poverty alleviation in coastal communities.

• Challenges in Aquaculture Expansion: The expansion of aquaculture is constrained by space availability and water quality. Intensive aquaculture practices, such as those involving carnivorous fish and shrimp, are often criticized for their environmental impact, but traditional aquaculture methods, like seaweed and mollusc farming, are less impactful and more sustainable.

• Importance of MPAs: MPAs are essential for achieving Aichi Target 11 and protecting marine biodiversity. They are not just conservation tools but also have the potential to support sustainable economic activities when managed effectively.

• Integration of Aquaculture and MPAs: There is a growing recognition that aquaculture and MPAs can coexist and even complement each other. This requires a context-specific, integrated approach that considers both ecological and socio-economic factors.

Key Information

Aquaculture Types and Production

• Seaweeds: Account for 27% of global aquaculture production. They are autotrophic and have minimal environmental impact.
• Molluscs: Represent 16% of global production, primarily bivalves like oysters and mussels, but also include echinoderms and gastropods.
• Crustaceans: Constitute 7% of production, mainly shrimp, crabs, and lobsters.
• Finfishes: Account for 6% of global production, divided into low and high trophic level species (e.g., milkfish vs. salmon).

Aquaculture Systems

• Cages/Pens: Used for finfish in coastal and offshore areas.
• Suspended Culture: Involves longlines for shellfish or seaweed.
• Vertical/Rack Culture: Sticks or posts serve as growing mediums for shellfish or seaweed.
• Bottom Culture: Utilizes natural substrates like rocks and stones for shellfish.
• Ponds: Natural or artificial water bodies for finfish, crustaceans, and shellfish.
• Recycling Aquaculture Systems (RAS): Land-based systems with minimal water use and high-density production.

Intensity of Aquaculture

• Intensive: High density and regular feeding (e.g., salmon cages in Europe, shrimp in Thailand).
• Semi-intensive: Lower density with some natural feeding (e.g., mullet in Egypt).
• Extensive: Low density and reliance on natural resources (e.g., seaweed, shellfish in the Philippines).

MPA Categories and Aquaculture Compatibility

Synergies and Benefits

• Wild Stock Enhancement: Aquaculture can contribute to the restoration of wild fish populations and marine flora.
• Fisheries Enhancement: Aquaculture can serve as an alternative to overfishing, especially in areas with vulnerable stocks.
• Food Security and Economic Resilience: Aquaculture supports local economies and provides a sustainable source of food for coastal communities.
• Ecosystem Services: Shellfish and seaweed farming can contribute to carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and benthic biodiversity restoration.

Challenges and Considerations

• Impact Assessment: It is crucial to assess the potential impact of aquaculture on the environment and local communities.
• Sustainable Feed Sources: The sustainability of aquaculture feed is a key issue, especially for carnivorous species. Alternatives like by-products and algae are being explored.
• Spatial Planning: The integration of aquaculture into MPAs requires careful spatial planning and management to ensure compatibility and minimize conflict.

Case Studies

• Madeira and Canary Islands: These islands have rich marine biodiversity and are protected under the European Habitat Directive. Aquaculture has been historically established in these areas, but its integration into MPAs is still under development.
• Marine Spatial Planning (MSP): A tool to integrate aquaculture with MPAs and other coastal activities. It is being used in Madeira to map potential aquaculture sites and MPAs, while the Canary Islands face implementation challenges due to regulatory and administrative complexities.

Conclusion

The document highlights the need for a balanced, context-specific approach to integrating aquaculture with MPAs. It suggests that sustainable aquaculture can contribute positively to conservation goals and local economies, provided it is managed with care and in alignment with MPA objectives. A step-by-step process involving stakeholder engagement, impact assessment, and spatial planning is recommended to achieve this integration.