Aquaculture Climate Change ((full)) -

Climate change is not just about gradual warming; it is about the increased frequency of "shocks." Intense storms, hurricanes, and typhoons can destroy offshore cages and pond infrastructure in a single afternoon. In Asia, where the vast majority of the world’s aquaculture occurs, seasonal monsoons are becoming more unpredictable, leading to flash floods that wash away pond-raised shrimp and tilapia.

Eco-labels—Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP), GlobalG.A.P.—have proliferated, but none adequately address climate resilience. The ASC’s salmon standard requires monitoring of temperature and dissolved oxygen but sets no maximum thresholds for mortality during heatwaves. BAP’s shrimp standard prohibits mangrove conversion but does not require restoration of previously cleared mangroves. A 2022 analysis found that only 12% of certified farms had emissions reduction targets, and none were required to report scope 3 emissions (feed production, transport). aquaculture climate change

It was a desperate gamble. The cost of running the pumps and temperature control for the deck tanks would bankrupt them for the quarter, perhaps the year. But the climate crisis had forced their hand. Survival was no longer about profit margins; it was about genetic preservation. Climate change is not just about gradual warming;

"The copepods are dying," Sarah shouted over the howling wind, pointing to a microscope feed on a backup monitor. The screen showed the microscopic plankton samples from the intake valves. They looked malformed. It was a desperate gamble