Around the globe, conflicts over fisheries threaten maritime safety, broader geopolitical tensions, and food security. Fishery conflicts occur when a fisheries resource is contested by two or more actors at a discrete time and place. While the frequency of such disputes has been increasing since the 1970s, our understanding of the spatial and temporal dynamics of fisheries conflict remains limited. Alongside regions like the Arctic and South China Sea, the Western Pacific Ocean has emerged as a potential hot spot for future conflicts due to its extensive fisheries and diverse political actors. Maintaining the safety and equity of ocean-based food systems is particularly important for the Western Pacific where fisheries provide nutritional, economic, and cultural value. Here, we analyze fisheries conflict from 1974 to 2023 to investigate changes in where conflicts transpire, which actors are involved, and conflict intensity. By combining recently sourced data from a World Wildlife Fund partnership with the International Fishery Conflict Database, this study utilizes a larger dataset for analysis than previously available for the region. Our findings reveal changes in how and where nations are participating in conflicts in the Western Pacific Ocean, helping to identify gaps and opportunities in current fisheries management policies and practices that may be contributing to the issue.
How to cite:
Delaney, T. and Mana’oakamai Johnson, S.: Shifting Tides: Analyzing Fisheries Conflict and Geopolitical Dynamics in the Western Pacific (1974-2023), One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-825, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-825, 2025.
William Cheung, Juliano Palacios-Abrantes, Isabella Morgante, Muhammed Oyinlola, Thomas Frölicher, Vicky Lam, Gabriel Reygondeau, Kristen Sora, U. Rashid Sumaila, Lydia Teh, Aleah Wong, and Zeyu Zeng
The ocean's capacity to sustainably, equitably, and safely produce food is declining due to ongoing biodiversity losses driven by direct exploitation, climate change, and other human-induced stressors such as plastic pollution. Solutions such as fisheries management, aquaculture, and marine protected areas have been proposed to reverse these declines. However, recent analyses of global fisheries and aquaculture trends highlight intensifying trade-offs and inequities within and across seafood production, climate action, and biodiversity conservation. In this study, we apply multiple integrated models—encompassing climate, biodiversity, seafood production, and economic impacts—at both global and regional scales to assess how portfolios of proposed solutions could achieve sustainable, equitable seafood security and biodiversity conservation targets under climate change. The models incorporate scenarios for both direct and indirect drivers, including changing ocean conditions, demographic shifts, seafood demand and prices, fisheries management, and aquaculture development strategies. Our projections indicate that urgent, unprecedented actions on multiple fronts to reduce fishing effort, develop sustainable aquaculture, expand marine protected areas, and advance climate mitigation, are required to meet sustainable, equitable seafood security goals. Climate change disproportionately impacts the capacity to produce nutrient-rich seafood for local consumption and rebuild depleted biomass, especially for low- and middle-income countries in the tropics and vulnerable communities in extra-tropical regions. We show that conservation- and vulnerable communities- oriented ocean management strategies and keeping global warming below 1.5°C are necessary conditions to achieve seafood and biodiversity targets. Our findings underscore the co-benefits and trade-offs in the pathways towards achieving food, climate and biodiversity ocean targets. We highlight how scenarios and models with participatory approaches can facilitate the co-development of portfolios of sustainable and equitable solution options for ocean-based food systems.
How to cite:
Cheung, W., Palacios-Abrantes, J., Morgante, I., Oyinlola, M., Frölicher, T., Lam, V., Reygondeau, G., Sora, K., Sumaila, U. R., Teh, L., Wong, A., and Zeng, Z.: Projecting pathways to achieve sustainable ocean targets for food security, climate resilience, and biodiversity conservation, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-263, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-263, 2025.
Rachel Zuercher, Andre Boustany, Santi Roberts, Sam Wilding, Tyler Isaac, Kiel Edson, Ruben Sanchez Ramirez, Kellan Warner, Sara McDonald, and Jennifer Kemmerly
Seafood is a key element in global food systems, necessary to the billions of people who depend on marine species for nutrition and livelihoods. But achieving environmental sustainability for wild-caught fisheries and aquaculture operations has proven a challenge as global demand for seafood continues to grow. The Monterey Bay Aquarium (California, United States) Seafood Watch program provides science-based information to help people and businesses make responsible seafood choices. They do this with a Green-Yellow-Red rating scheme, where a red rating is an alert to consumers and businesses to consider the consequences of their purchase on the species and ecosystem that species inhabits, as well as on human health and well-being. The program currently provides environmental sustainability ratings for more than 80% of the domestic and imported seafood on the U.S. market. To better understand the key factors limiting environmental sustainability of this food source, we used a dataset of Seafood Watch assessment scores for wild-capture U.S. and international fisheries. By summarizing scores related to target fishery species, other captured species, management effectiveness, and habitats and ecosystems, we provide insight into whether and to what extent existing management tools are well-suited to addressing the major challenges that prevent fisheries from receiving yellow and green ratings. The analysis showed that negative fishery bycatch outcomes are driving low Seafood Watch ratings for both U.S. and international fisheries, highlighting the need to expand bycatch reduction and population recovery efforts globally. Inadequate management or a lack of information regarding the effectiveness of management of both target species and bycatch is also driving red ratings for international fisheries. On this front, efforts to bolster data collection and monitoring, and international cooperation to facilitate ecosystem-based fisheries management can provide an effective means to enhance fishery sustainability. We conclude that improvements in global seafood sustainability are possible using currently available policy tools and proven solutions. However, we must increase the pace at which change in the system is realized, as well as explore novel, collaborative approaches to ensure the long-term sustainability of ocean-based foods.
How to cite:
Zuercher, R., Boustany, A., Roberts, S., Wilding, S., Isaac, T., Edson, K., Sanchez Ramirez, R., Warner, K., McDonald, S., and Kemmerly, J.: Seafood Watch: A program overview and assessment of the key factors limiting environmental sustainability of global fisheries, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-929, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-929, 2025.
Laura G. Elsler, Colin P. Thackray, Jessica A. Gephart, Jessica Zamborain Mason, Elsie M. Sunderland, and Christopher D. Golden
Seafood is a valuable source of micronutrients and the single largest source of consumed methylmercury (MeHg). MeHg consumption has adverse impacts on neurodevelopment and cardiovascular health. Many micronutrients that are abundant in seafood are vital contributors to healthy development such as vitamin B12 and folate during pregnancy. In addition, micronutrients such as selenium may limit the health impacts of MeHg exposure. Here, we combine global trade data that includes disaggregated species and nutrient profiles with global modeled MeHg concentrations to assess the global distribution of nutrient supply and mercury exposure attributed to seafood consumption. Our study 1) examines a nutrient-mercury trade-off index for distinct countries, species, and products; 2) identifies the countries and regions that deviate positively and negatively by MeHg exposure and nutrient benefits; and 3) showcases species trade flows that have particularly beneficial nutrient (relative to country nutrient inadequacies) and adverse MeHg profiles (relative to upper safety limits). Our study highlights nutritionally vulnerable and high-risk MeHg exposure locations that would benefit the most from a shift in current seafood trade flows.
How to cite:
Elsler, L. G., Thackray, C. P., Gephart, J. A., Zamborain Mason, J., Sunderland, E. M., and Golden, C. D.: Trade mediates global marine nutrient supply and methylmercury exposure, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1477, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1477, 2025.
Aleah Wong, Andrea Y. Frommel, U. Rashid Sumaila, and William W.L. Cheung
Aquaculture is an important component of ocean-based food systems. Production of aquatic species is simultaneously impacted by and contributes to climate change and biodiversity loss through complex interlinkages between ecosystems and our food systems. Thus, assessing aquaculture’s sustainability needs to account for the nexus of food security, climate change and biodiversity (FCB). Social-ecological traits-based approaches, which use physical, ecological and socio-cultural characteristics to understand interactions in complex systems, could help overcome challenges in navigating the FCB nexus. This study investigates aquaculture’s role in achieving FCB goals by combining biological traits of farmed species with aquaculture production statistics and stakeholders’ knowledge on the importance of these traits in achieving FCB targets. Firstly, we developed a trait-based analytical framework to quantify the potential of major farmed aquatic species to contribute to FCB goals based on their biological and ecological characteristics, and assessed temporal trends in aquaculture’s FCB potential. We find that trade-offs between the food, climate and biodiversity dimensions have resulted in an overall decline in aquaculture’s FCB potential since 1980. While mean scores across 54 highly farmed aquaculture species are low, algae and molluscs tend to perform well across FCB indices. As aquaculture has intensified, production has increasingly favored a handful of species with low potential and more trade-offs in achieving the different sustainability goals, lowering aquaculture’s FCB potential. Future aquaculture can reverse such unfavorable trends by shifting to farm species with greater FCB potential and synergies. For example, molluscs have disproportionately contributed to aquaculture’s FCB potential but are under-represented in global production. Moreover, seaweed farming has received large interest because of its high FCB potential and synergies. We thus examined stakeholder perceptions of traits associated with food, climate and biodiversity using a case study in British Columbia’s nascent seaweed aquaculture sector in order to investigate the influence of traits on FCB in a local context and understand potential social-ecological challenges related to sustainable aquaculture development. Stakeholder perceptions of seaweed traits underscore the complexity in achieving FCB objectives synergistically through developing a new seaweed farming industry. Overall, our results highlight the large scope and opportunities to improve the contributions of aquaculture to FCB goals by selecting farmed species with traits that can better support such goals and that match stakeholders’ socio-ecological preferences. This traits-based approach can help identify opportunities and barriers for aquaculture transitions to develop equitable pathways toward the sustainable development of aquaculture across nuanced regional contexts.
How to cite:
Wong, A., Frommel, A. Y., Sumaila, U. R., and Cheung, W. W. L.: A Traits-based assessment of aquaculture’s sustainable development potential at the food-climate-biodiversity nexus, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-229, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-229, 2025.
Raphaëla le Gouvello, Clément Chazot, Mathieu Ducrocq, François Simard, and Aurélie Spadone
The target 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework emphasizes the need for innovative approaches in coastal areas to achieve marine ecosystem conservation and food security while promoting inclusivity for coastal populations. For the aquaculture sector, representing more than 50 percent of the seafood produced in the world (FAO, 2024), there is an urgent need to enhance the sustainability of marine aquaculture systems often seen as negatively impacting marine biodiversity and social tensions in coastal communities. This study proposes a transition towards ocean-positive aquaculture practices that not only minimize environmental impacts, but also support marine and coastal ecosystem functions and ensure equitable access to resources and benefits for local communities.
The research examines the Regenerative Blue Economy (RBE) framework as a comprehensive approach to achieve these goals (Le Gouvello & Simard, 2024). The RBE principles are analyzed with related concepts which emphasize enhancing the resilience of food systems against environmental changes and supporting small-scale actors and coastal communities such as: restorative aquaculture (Alleway et al., 2023), regenerative aquaculture (Mizuta et al., 2023), ecological aquaculture, marine permaculture (Spillias et al., 2024), aquaculture as a Nature-based Solution (Le Gouvello et al., 2023) and a more inclusivity in the aquaculture sector (Brugere et al., 2023).
The study identifies key indicators to guide aquaculture development policy and practices towards the RBE framework, focusing on improving the understanding of aquatic foods' roles in food security and nutrition, and addressing safety concerns related to ocean-based food systems. The relevance of this approach is demonstrated through a case study in a community-managed marine protected area in Senegal, where clam production initiatives empower women and enhance local food sovereignty.
By fostering transgenerational access to aquatic foods and integrating Indigenous knowledge, this research contributes to the development of equitable and sustainable marine aquaculture practices. The findings highlight synergies with marine conservation tools, such as Marine Protected Areas and other effective conservation measures (Le Gouvello et al., 2017). Recommendations for policymakers are presented, emphasizing strategies to transition marine aquaculture systems towards a regenerative model that supports a sustainable future for ocean-based foods.
Alleway, H. K., et al. (2023). doi.org/10.1111/csp2.12982
Brugere, C., et al. (2023). doi.org/10.1111/jwas.12959
FAO. (2024). doi.org/10.4060/cd0683en
Le Gouvello, R., et al. (2023). doi.org/10.3389/fmars.2023.1146637
Le Gouvello, R., et al. (2017). doi.org/10.1002/aqc.2821
Le Gouvello, R., & Simard, F. (2024). https://portals.iucn.org/library/node/51442
Mizuta, D. D., et al. (2023). doi.org/10.1111/raq.12706
Spillias, S., et al. (2024). doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2024.01.012
How to cite:
le Gouvello, R., Chazot, C., Ducrocq, M., Simard, F., and Spadone, A.: Moving marine aquaculture towards the Regenerative Blue Economy framework, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-185, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-185, 2025.
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Elena Ojea, Mario Soliño, Haritz Ayarza, and Juan Bueno-Pardo
Food from the sea can potentially provide a large share of the global future food demand, providing that seafood systems are sustainable and equitable. Climate change is one of the key drivers threatening the future of fish for nutrition and livelihoods, questioning the sustainability of current seafood systems and requiring adaptation and transformation action. Current discussions over the sustainability and resilience of seafood systems are often skewed towards the production side (i.e. fishers, catches). However, filling nutritional gaps and achieving food security for all requires broadening the approach and including the rest of the seafood supply chain actors, from producers to consumers. The transformation of the seafood system requires the adaptation of consumers, which may be largely constrained by current perceptions of risk, consumption habits and willingness to change.
In this work we focus on the consumer side of the seafood system challenge by exploring the risk of the consumer’s seafood basket. The overall aim is to explore adaptation responses in terms of consumption choices of small-scale fisheries production, and assess whether these responses are resilient to climate change. To do this we develop a social survey approach to gather information from Galician consumers (Northwest Spain), a region that is highly reliant on seafood for nutrition and livelihoods. An online survey instrument has been directed at a social panel to collect 1) consumption habits; 2) climate change perceptions and 3) preferences towards adaptation outcomes. Consumption habits refer to the diversity, frequency and preference for fish and shellfish species consumed. Climate change perceptions measure the awareness of consumers to the impacts of climate change and the fishing sector. Adaptation options include the distribution of climate change impacts across genders, the focus on shellfish or finfish, and the importance of traditional markets. A sample of 600 consumers is analyzed to explore consumer adaptation responses through cluster analysis and regression models. We find a set of socioeconomic profiles that explain consumer’s estated behavior, however in general responses show a preference for equitable gender impact burden, and equitable adaptation across finfish and shellfish. THis study provides empirical evidence on the preparedness of consumers to climate change adaptation needs in consumption patterns, contributing to the debate over the best adaptation and transformation strategies for the future of seafood systems elsewhere.
How to cite:
Ojea, E., Soliño, M., Ayarza, H., and Bueno-Pardo, J.: Consumers’ readiness to adapt to climate change impacts in seafood systems, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1513, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1513, 2025.
17:10–17:30
Discussion
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Elizabeth Talbot, Jean-Beth S. Jontila, Benjamin J. Gonzales, Roger G. Dolorosa, Edgar D. Jose, Recca Sajorne, Sevrine Sailley, Susan Kay, and Ana M. Queirós
Tropical marine fisheries substantially contribute to societal well-being, particularly in coastal communities dependent on fisheries for food security, livelihoods and economic development. However, tropical capture fisheries are increasingly vulnerable to several climate change impacts, affecting the habitat distribution and abundance of fish stocks and consequently, fisheries production. Understanding the impacts of climate change on tropical marine fisheries is therefore an important step towards developing sustainable, climate-adaptive fisheries management measures. We apply an established method of spatial meta-analysis to assess species distribution modelling datasets for key species targeted by the Philippines capture fisheries, using the province of Palawan as a case study. We analysed datasets under two global emissions scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) and varying degrees of fishing pressure to quantify potential climate vulnerability of the target community. We found widespread responses to climate change in pelagic species in particular, with abundances projected to decline across much of the case study area, highlighting the challenges of maintaining food security in the face of a rapidly changing climate. We argue that sustainable fisheries management in the Philippines in the face of climate change can only be achieved through management strategies that allow for the mitigation of, and adaptation to, pressures already locked into the climate system for the near term. Our analysis may support this, providing fisheries managers with the means to identify potential climate change hotspots, bright spots and refugia, thereby supporting the development of climate-ready management plans, and highlighting what can be done to support sustainability, rather than focussing only on what will be lost.
How to cite:
Talbot, E., Jontila, J.-B. S., Gonzales, B. J., Dolorosa, R. G., Jose, E. D., Sajorne, R., Sailley, S., Kay, S., and Queirós, A. M.: Incorporating climate-readiness into fisheries management strategies, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-258, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-258, 2025.
Olivier Thebaud, James Butler, Alexandre Magnan, Alaric McCarthy, José A. Pérez Agúndez, Craig Prichard, and Pierre Scemama
Any marine environmental concern is embedded in critical, complex social dimensions. These dimensions are however still often set aside, in studies defining solutions to the sustainable development challenge. This is despite the fact that, by moving beyond the sole description of natural processes, by focusing sustainability research on societal issues and stakes, and by opening the door to stakeholder engagement in the research process, social sciences can act as a key driving force of the interdisciplinary integration that is required in identifying such solutions.
How social sciences can contribute to further design the solution narratives requires bringing together multiple views. To this end, we assembled a group of scientific experts from multidisciplinary backgrounds, ranging from genomic research to ecological modelling and social science. Building on existing foresight studies of seafood systems for mainland France, New-Zealand, and small-island economies of the South Pacific, we invited these experts to envisage the possible futures of aquaculture systems under alternative scenarios, and to identify no-regret research strategies that would best support the sustainable development of this sector. Research on the social, economic and governance dimensions were considered to be key across all regional contexts and scenarios, lending ground to the observation that the importance of such research is well acknowledged by the scientific community. This result highlights the need to increase the resources devoted to further developing these research areas.
How to cite:
Thebaud, O., Butler, J., Magnan, A., McCarthy, A., Pérez Agúndez, J. A., Prichard, C., and Scemama, P.: Improving our understanding of social dimensions is key to the planning of future aquaculture systems: workshop report., One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-389, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-389, 2025.
Alisha Morsella, Alessio Perilli, Walter Ricciardi, and Chiara Cadeddu
Introduction: Ciguatera Poisoning (CP) is the most prevalent seafood intoxication globally, caused by ciguatoxins that bioaccumulate in marine food webs and pose significant health risks, including persistent gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, and neurological symptoms. Moreover, ciguatoxin presence is found to be intensified by anthropogenic disturbances. Despite such clinical and ecological significance, underreporting rates are high while public awareness of CP remains scarce, particularly in vulnerable coastal communities. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of knowledge and awareness of CP among three demographic groups— local fishermen, local non-fishermen, and visitors—across six Small Island Developing States (SIDS) in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles, namely Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada.
Methods: Employing a mixed-methods approach, 137 responses were collected on-site and online via structured questionnaires and semi-structured interviews between February and July 2023, to investigate i) understanding of Ciguatera relevant to respondents’ island; ii) personal or family experiences with Ciguatera; iii) general knowledge about Ciguatera’s clinical and managerial implications; iv) individual and community risk perception and concern levels. Descriptive and inferential statistics, along with multivariable logistic models, were used to analyze associations with covariates like age, gender, category, and location.
Findings: the analysis revealed significant variability in CP awareness, with 76% of fishermen, 40% of local residents, and 32% of visitors reporting familiarity with the condition. Geographical disparities were also pronounced, with higher awareness levels observed in the northern French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique, compared to a more limited awareness in the southern archipelagos. Fishermen demonstrated the most extensive knowledge of CP risks and mitigation strategies, whereas residents and visitors exhibited critical gaps in understanding, particularly regarding clinical features and risk mitigation measures.
Conclusions: the findings underscore an urgent need to increase food safety, through targeted public health strategies, health education campaigns and improved surveillance systems which bridge knowledge gaps and address the underreporting of CP cases. Strengthening community-based public health strategies, particularly in regions dependent on fisheries for sustenance and economic stability, is paramount. Furthermore, integrating environmental monitoring with health governance can enhance risk mitigation and resilience in SIDS increasingly impacted by climate change and ecological disruptions.
How to cite:
Morsella, A., Perilli, A., Ricciardi, W., and Cadeddu, C.: Ciguatera Poisoning: an assessment of the current level of awareness among islanders and visitors on six Caribbean Islands, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-844, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-844, 2025.
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Rosa Mar Dominguez-Martinez, Leslie Roberson, Jessica Gephart, and Carissa Klein
The international trade of threatened marine species as seafood poses significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and undermines global sustainability goals. While illegal fishing contributes to these threats, many national and international policies permit the legal harvest and trade of threatened species, creating a fundamental conflict with conservation objectives.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species provides the world's most comprehensive assessment of species' conservation status and extinction risks. However, threats and species' extinction risks at regional levels can differ significantly from global assessments, leading many countries to develop their own national threatened species lists. For instance, the Orange Roughy is classified as "Vulnerable" on the IUCN Red List in Europe, but listed as "Endangered" under Australia's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.
While previous studies have analyzed trade patterns using IUCN listings alone, incorporating national threatened species lists can provide a more complete picture of how international trade affects endangered species. Our research compiles national threatened species lists from around the world to examine how major seafood trading nations engage in trade of species listed as threatened under their own biodiversity conservation policies, and identifies the mechanisms that enable such trade.
By analyzing the interaction between national conservation frameworks and international trade patterns, we identify critical gaps where trade practices conflict with domestic species protection policies. Our findings suggest specific targets for strengthening domestic conservation measures and highlight opportunities to better align international trade policies with biodiversity protection and sustainability goals.
How to cite:
Dominguez-Martinez, R. M., Roberson, L., Gephart, J., and Klein, C.: Legal trade of threatened marine species undermines conservation commitments, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-923, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-923, 2025.
Hunger and malnutrition are key challenges facing humanity, further exacerbated by the increasing effects of climate change, habitat degradation, and species loss. Aquatic foods are known for their high nutrient levels, lower carbon footprints, and importance as a source of livelihoods to millions of people globally. Ensuring access and availability for dependent communities, and that management of these resources is sustainable and resilient to impacts such as climate change are key components to ensuring continued delivery of a nutritious food source, and to achieving global development targets such as the UN SDGs of Zero Hunger and Good Health and well-being. Marine food systems (seafood systems) are currently hampered by fragmented governance and management that focus more on economic short-term revenues than the ecological, social, nutritional or equity dimensions of sustainability. Taking a more balanced approach to sustainability, supported by integrated analyses that link fisheries, aquaculture, and nutritional research could help to highlight management options that are sustainable and that provide viable options for producing novel and affordable seafood products to meet growing demand across multiple sustainability dimensions. Here we illustrate what a ‘balanced sustainability’ approach entails and illustrate how private-public partnerships can act as catalysts to support necessary changes across fisheries and aquaculture management, nutrition, and development policy realms on local, national and global levels to effectuate change at a scale and duration that allows us to achieve the SDGs.
How to cite:
Olsen, E., Bank, M., and Frøyland, L.: Balanced Sustainability to Support Future Blue Food Systems , One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1051, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1051, 2025.
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Maria J. Darias, Antoinette Adingra, Teejaswani Bachoo, Célestin Blé, Marissa Brink-Hull, Henriques Bustani, Mame Seynabou Gueye, Betina Lukwambe, David Mirera, Nadeem Nazurally, Hilkka Ndjaula, Francis Pius Mmanda, Mbaye Tine, Martin Tjipute, and Brett M. Macey
Aquatic foods—including fish, invertebrates, algae, and aquatic plants—play a crucial role in global food and nutrition security. They provide 15% of global animal proteins and are particularly crucial in many low-income countries. In addition to protein, aquatic foods are rich sources of essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. Despite their importance, these foods are often underrepresented in policy dialogues and funding priorities. Many nations manage aquatic food production predominantly from an economic standpoint, focusing on exports rather than domestic nutritional needs. To shift this paradigm, promoting nutrition-sensitive aquatic food systems is imperative. This involves shifting from viewing fisheries and aquaculture only as a means for producing aquatic foods to a means for promoting overall well-being, requiring the integration of socio-economic, environmental, and cultural dimensions.
Over the last thirty years, aquaculture has grown rapidly to meet the increasing global demand of aquatic foods. While per capita consumption of aquatic foods is projected to rise by 2030 globally, Africa is an exception due to population growth outpacing supply. Although African aquaculture production has expanded significantly in recent years, it represents less than 2% of the global aquaculture production, with marine aquaculture production being one of the lowest worldwide.
The AfriMAQUA initiative was established in 2019 as a collaborative network of researchers from various African countries and France, aimed at enhancing the sustainability of marine aquaculture in Africa. In 2023, it was endorsed as a programme of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development 2021-2030. AfriMAQUA seeks to promote South-South-North collaborations and knowledge sharing across Africa, emphasizing coordinated efforts to develop sustainable and nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture. The programme focuses on 1) fostering collaborative research, 2) enhancing skills and knowledge through training and capacity-building, and 3) employing participatory approaches to identify drivers and barriers to the sustainable development of marine aquaculture.
This presentation will examine case studies of collaborative research projects undertaken by AfriMAQUA partner countries. These studies highlight practical applications of sustainable approaches in marine aquaculture adapted to local contexts and demonstrate capacity-building efforts. By sharing these examples, we aim to illustrate the tangible impacts of coordinated research activities on the sustainability and nutritional outcomes of marine aquaculture in Africa.
How to cite:
Darias, M. J., Adingra, A., Bachoo, T., Blé, C., Brink-Hull, M., Bustani, H., Gueye, M. S., Lukwambe, B., Mirera, D., Nazurally, N., Ndjaula, H., Mmanda, F. P., Tine, M., Tjipute, M., and Macey, B. M.: UN Ocean Decade Programme AfriMAQUA: Network for nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture in Africa, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1105, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1105, 2025.
Marie-Yasmine Dechraoui Bottein, Nicholas R. Record, Dave Clarke, Lars-Johan Naustvoll, Johnathan Evanilla, Yun Sun, Esther Garrido Gamarro, and Henrik Enevoldsen
Harmful algal blooms (HABs) represent a growing global challenge, threatening human, environmental, and animal health, while also causing substantial social and economic impacts. Certain algal species produce potent toxins that can accumulate in marine organisms and eventually enter the human food chain, potentially causing a variety of human illnesses. High-biomass HABs can also deplete ocean oxygen, produce hydrogen sulfide, and lead to massive fish kills, including in aquaculture sites. In addition, the impact on desalination plants, conducting to reduced or closure of activities are becoming emerging challenges globally. HABs are thus a food safety and food security threat through seafood contamination above safety levels, aquaculture site closures, ban of certain fish species trade, mass mortalities, human illnesses and drinking water limitations. These challenges are diverse in nature, and their solutions vary across different social configurations around the world and require a multifaceted approach.
This study explores the intersection of environmental, social, animal health, and human health disciplines, and emphasizes the perspectives of various stakeholders, including coastal communities and industries, and on scales ranging from local to global. We present insights gained from the practical experiences in two African countries to pilot test the recently published Technical Guidance for Early Warning Systems (EWS) for HABs (FAO, IOC-UNESCO, and IAEA). We highlight the necessity of an integrated, transdisciplinary, science-based approach to enhance the prediction of HAB events, improve alerts, which go beyond monitoring systems, and develop effective responses to ensure sustainable access to safe seafood and promote fare trades. An integrated One Health approach incorporates environmental monitoring, marine biotoxin detection, predictive model development, socio-economic assessments, ocean literacy, public health surveillance, all while fostering collaboration across sectors and stakeholders, involving not only marine scientists and health professionals but also local communities, policymakers, and the private sector. Although EWS solutions for HABs will always require location-specific considerations, international technology and information exchange are inherent to this approach guided by open science principles. Ultimately, this approach aims to mitigate the impacts of HABs, reduce economic losses in the seafood industry, and improve food safety and security while supporting the continual and sustainable development of seafood production and marine ecosystems.
How to cite:
Dechraoui Bottein, M.-Y., Record, N. R., Clarke, D., Naustvoll, L.-J., Evanilla, J., Sun, Y., Garrido Gamarro, E., and Enevoldsen, H.: Harmful Algal Blooms and Biotoxins – a One health Approach to Early Warning Systems, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1208, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1208, 2025.
Brett Macey, Maretha Opperman, Pascal Raux, Marissa Brink-Hull, Frank Wieringa, and Maria Darias
Over the past three decades, global capture fisheries production has remained relatively unchanged, while aquaculture production has strongly increased to satisfy the demands of a growing world population. Since 2022, aquaculture production has surpassed that of capture fisheries. Although the environmental performance of aquaculture has shown positive trends over the last 20 years, further research is necessary to address its sustainability challenges, such as reducing the use of marine resources in aquafeeds, limiting habitat degradation, and improving disease management.
Research in aquaculture has traditionally focused on enhancing the growth and health of farmed species, rather than addressing human nutrition concerns. Nutrition-sensitive aquaculture proposes a new paradigm that moves beyond merely producing aquatic foods to fostering well-being. This involves promoting diversification and sustainable intensification of aquaculture production, investigating a wider range of aquatic species and their dietary contributions to prioritize nutrient-rich alternatives that improve dietary diversity, and encouraging nutrition-enhancing aquaculture feeding practices, among other strategies.
Based in South Africa, the International Joint Laboratory LIMAQUA—lima means ‘to cultivate’ in Xhosa, a language spoken in Southern Africa—conducts an interdisciplinary research and training programme to tackle nutritional and sustainability challenges of marine aquaculture, contributing to food and nutrition security, poverty alleviation, and income creation in the region. LIMAQUA brings together a team of scientists specializing in biology, biotechnology, socioeconomics, food science and human nutrition. The research and training activities are grounded in the sustainability science approach—an inter- and transdisciplinary approach co-constructed with academic, governmental, private sector, and civil society actors. Specifically, LIMAQUA focuses on i) developing sustainable marine aquaculture practices for target species, including research on culture technologies, sustainable nutrition, welfare and health of farmed organisms (One Health approach), and aquaculture-environment interactions; ii) adopting an integrated approach to marine aquaculture development; iii) creating aquaculture-based food and nutritional products; iv) providing capacity-building and training; and v) fostering collaborations within Africa.
This presentation will examine examples of research activities undertaken within the framework of LIMAQUA. This includes the development of integrated multitrophic aquaculture systems, assessments of social acceptability of aquaculture development, and evaluations of the nutrient supply from local aquaculture production, highlighting sustainable and nutrition-sensitive approaches in marine aquaculture.
How to cite:
Macey, B., Opperman, M., Raux, P., Brink-Hull, M., Wieringa, F., and Darias, M.: LIMAQUA: African interdisciplinary laboratory in sustainable, nutrition-sensitive marine aquaculture, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1293, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1293, 2025.
Sabine Azemard, Laetitia Hédouin, David Lecchini, Cécile Fauvelot, Paco Bustamante, and Marc Metian
Although fish is an important source of nutrients, including some of the healthiest proteins, long-chain fatty acids, and essential selenium, species at the top of the food chain often contain high levels of mercury (Hg). The provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of Hg from fish consumption is calculated based on the total concentration of Hg, assuming that all Hg is in the form of organic methylmercury (MeHg). However, recent findings indicate that some fish species, even top predators, may have high total Hg concentrations but very low proportions of MeHg. In this context, a study was conducted to monitor the concentrations of total Hg and MeHg in the edible flesh of various fish species from French Polynesia. These results, complemented by trophic level data, provide a clearer understanding of the MeHg/Total Hg ratio in fish a region where fish consumption is high. Detailed discussions will also address the potential risk assessment aspects.
How to cite:
Azemard, S., Hédouin, L., Lecchini, D., Fauvelot, C., Bustamante, P., and Metian, M.: Mercury bioaccumulation in fish from French Polynesia: influence of trophic groups and risk assessment for consumers, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1303, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1303, 2025.
While the worlds’ consumption of aquatic foods has increased significantly in recent years and will continue to rise, both Aquaculture and Fisheries face numerous challenges jeopardizing the sustainability of those practices. Satellite observations can provide crucial, repetitive and global observations to support the ocean-based food systems while enhancing their sustainability. They provide key information on the marine environment (e.g. sea surface temperature, chlorophyll-a concentration, ocean currents,…) that have an influence on the distribution and abundance of fish stocks and therefore inform fisheries managers of the location of sustainable habitats for various species, supporting them to make informed decisions about when and where to fish to minimize the impact on target species, reduce bycatch and avoid overfishing. Measured parameters are also key for identifying suitable locations for aquaculture farms, planning aquaculture operations and support effective monitoring and management strategies by assessing the health of aquatic ecosystems, preventing pollution, and optimizing conditions for aquaculture species. The objective of this presentation is to give an overview of several on-going projects funded within the EO4Society programme element of the European Space Agency (ESA), within which new satellite-based products and tools are being developed to support sustainable fisheries and aquaculture sectors, in close link with relevant stakeholders (e,g. fishermen, aquaculture farmers, regulating, monitoring, managing, financing authorities).
How to cite:
Ottavianelli, G. and Rio, M.-H.: Satellite data in support of sustainable ocean-based food systems: on-going activities at the European Space Agency, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1352, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1352, 2025.
Based on the island of Embiez, the Paul Ricard Oceanographic Institute (IOPR) has been combining research and awareness, science and sharing for almost 60 years. The acquisition of knowledge about the marine environment is here strongly associated with transmission to the public, schools, professionals, institutions and scientists. Its research activities are versatile and linked to major climate issues and sustainability sciences. In this context, the IOPR acquired in 2021 an innovative 600 m² aquaculture platform dedicated to applied research in sustainable aquaculture.
The presentation will aim to introduce this new tool and the results of the first programs hosted.
NAIADE program
In a context where demand for fish products on a global scale continues to increase, landings have nevertheless stagnated since the mid-1980s, despite an increase in fishing effort. To meet this demand, the development of aquaculture has been the driving force behind the increase in productivity in the sector. Aquaculture production, relating to the breeding of fish and shellfish, is closely dependent on mill fishing.
Based on this observation, the IOPR is developing a fish feed based on insect flour. This initiative brings together all the players in the region (Metropolis, Region, professionals and research institutes) with the aim of developing a food with sustainable and local components to offer the consumer responsible food. This project was rewarded with the Stars of Europe prize in the Southern Region in 2023.
Aquabios (Interreg Marritimo)
In the context of the production of juvenile marine fish supplying the grow-out sector, certain factors such as food limit the sustainability of hatcheries. Artemia (Artemia sp.) are widely used as live prey in marine hatcheries. Some copepods could be good candidates for rearing marine fish larvae through a complete nutrient supply while providing a local alternative to live prey used on large scales. In this context, new protocols and systems for producing plankton and marine organisms are being developed at the institute.
Shrimp Program
The disposal of by-products resulting from the fishing landing obligation or filleting units is synonymous with significant expenses for the Auctions. In this context, the use and direct valorization of by-products was proposed via a breeding demonstrator of a scavenging species. In this respect, shrimp seem to show strong potential. The institute is therefore carrying out a first feeding experiment based on co-products on Japanese shrimp (Paenus japonicus).
Ar Jeeguen : Designing a sustainable aquaponics model
The emergence of new forms of aquaculture is a necessity. Our resources are limited. Our ability to innovate, and in particular to create or recreate virtuous and sustainable food chains, is a key element in our ecological transformation. This is the essence of the project supported by the Veolia Foundation and carried out by the Agence Nationale d'Aquaculture (ANA) in Senegal and IOPR.
How to cite:
Bunet, R. and Davis, L.: Involvement of the Institute oceanographic Paul Ricard in the development of sustainable aquaculture, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1379, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1379, 2025.
Charlotte Wagner, Raja Asvanon, Elin Leander, Jonathan Green, and Cynthia McDougall
Small-scale fisheries (SSFs) are essential for global food security, especially in low- and lower-middle-income countries (LLMIs), where they are a primary source of protein and essential micronutrients for millions of people. SSFs contribute half of fishery catch globally, but in least developed countries over 80% of catch originates from SSFs, making them a critical food source in regions where other protein sources are scarce or unaffordable. However, ocean pollution—from chemicals, plastics, and other contaminants—poses an increasingly urgent threat to these fisheries and the health of communities that rely on them. Pollution exposure disproportionately impacts women and children in SSF communities, particularly in Southeast Asia, where productive fisheries and high fish consumption intersect with rapidly increasing industrial and agricultural pollution.
Drawing on a scoping review of the literature and rapid expert insights from stakeholders engaged in SSFs across international, regional, academic, and civil society sectors, this study highlights both the magnitude and complexity of ocean pollution impacts on SSFs, with a particular focus on the intersection of high pollution levels and food security dependency in coastal communities of LLMIs. For instance, while there is broad awareness of ocean pollution among wider SSF stakeholders and extensive evidence of ocean pollution and its toxicity, specific localized data on pollution in SSFs and pollution impacts on public health of SSF communities remain sparse. Out of nearly 2,500 articles on ocean pollution and health, only 104 included considerations specific to SSF communities, and only 11% of recent research focused on LLMIs. This lack of data constrains the capacity of SSF stakeholders to perceive pollution risks accurately, advocate for necessary pollution control measures and affect policy engagement
This study outlines research and engagement priorities to fill these gaps, calling for transdisciplinary approaches to measure and address pollution in SSF communities. Key recommendations include conducting comprehensive assessments of pollution in coastal SSFs, generating data on contaminant levels in marine species relevant to SSFs, and assessing dietary exposure risks for SSF communities, particularly among high-risk groups like women and children. These data are essential for pollution control agencies to establish the economic and health costs of pollution. Empowering SSF communities with this knowledge can enhance their participation in policy discussions and enable them to advocate for measures to mitigate pollution sources. Finally, increased collaborations among SSF stakeholders, pollution control agencies, and civil society organizations are essential to raise the visibility of SSF pollution impacts in policy arenas, particularly in Southeast Asia, where high fish consumption and pollution pose critical risks to food security and public health.
How to cite:
Wagner, C., Asvanon, R., Leander, E., Green, J., and McDougall, C.: Advancing Research and Policy Engagement to Mitigate Pollution Threats to Small-Scale Fisheries for Sustainable Food Security , One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1522, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1522, 2025.
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Adama Badiane,a,b M. Belén Rodríguez-Fonseca,b,c, Teresa Losadab, Abdou Lahat Dieng,a Cheikh Modou Noreyni Fall,a Amadou Thierno Gaye,a Saidou Moustapha Sall,a a Laboratoire de Physique de l’Atmosphère et de l’Océan Siméon Fongang (LPAOSF), École Supérieure Polytechnique (ESP), Univ. Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar, Senegal b Departamento de Física de la Tierra y Astrofísica, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain c IGEO, Instituto de Geociencias (CSIC, UCM), Madrid, Spain Corresponding author: Adama Badiane, dibadama86@gmail.com El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) events influence cyclones in the northern tropical Atlantic, but the role of the equatorial Atlantic has received less attention. This study explores how tropical ocean basins influence cyclones off Senegal and examines fluctuations over several decades. By comparing two periods (1979-1998 and 2003- 2022), we found that the impact of the equatorial Atlantic and Pacific oceans on cyclones was more marked in the first period. This inter-basin pattern is associated with 42% of the covariability between local pressures and surface temperatures. These results indicate that ocean temperature variability influences cyclone activity, with implications for cyclone predictability in the context of global warming.
How to cite:
Badiana, A.: Changes in the impact of Tropical basin interactions on Cape Vert tropical cyclogenesis, One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1337, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1337, 2025.
Peter Manyara, Vatosoa Rakontondrazafy, and Barkha Mossae
This paper explores the potential of integrating Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLC) science with modern technologies to enhance the monitoring and management of Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs) in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO). Combining traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) with tools like remote sensing and standardized citizen science can improve conservation outcomes and sustainable blue food systems. LMMAs, often reliant on local governance, are key tools for biodiversity conservation and climate resilience. This approach can also contribute to blue food entrepreneurship and climate-smart fisheries management, as exemplified by the Great Blue Wall initiative.
The WIO faces challenges from climate change and human pressures, impacting its biodiversity and economy.IPLCs, with their deep understanding of local ecosystems, can provide valuable insights for conservation. However, their knowledge is threatened by climate change and economic disruptions. LMMAs, developed by IPLCs, are crucial for safeguarding marine habitats and fostering biodiversity. They promote sustainable use, enhance climate resilience, and support local livelihoods. Studies have shown that LMMAs with strong community involvement have better ecological outcomes. Local communities are also developing innovative solutions for regenerative blue economy development.
How to cite:
Manyara, P., Rakontondrazafy, V., and Mossae, B.: Strengthening the Climate-Biodiversity-Food Security Nexus: Blending Traditional and Modern Technologies for Effective LMMA Monitoring and Management – Insights from the Great Blue Wall Initiative , One Ocean Science Congress 2025, Nice, France, 3–6 Jun 2025, OOS2025-1410, https://doi.org/10.5194/oos2025-1410, 2025.
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