Temporal patterns of adoption of mariculture innovation globally

Mariculture—farming seafood in the ocean—has been expanding in many countries and has the potential to be a critical component of a sustainable global food system. However, it has developed inconsistently across the globe, with minimal development in some regions, while in others intensive growth th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature sustainability 2019-10, Vol.2 (10), p.949-956
Main Authors: Gentry, Rebecca R., Ruff, Elizabeth O., Lester, Sarah E.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
704/158/852
704/844/685
706/1143
706/2808
Earth and Environmental Science
Environment
Marine aquaculture
Mollusks
Seafood
Shellfish
Species diversity
Sustainability
Sustainable Development
Sustainable food systems
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Summary:Mariculture—farming seafood in the ocean—has been expanding in many countries and has the potential to be a critical component of a sustainable global food system. However, it has developed inconsistently across the globe, with minimal development in some regions, while in others intensive growth threatens sustainability. There is no overall understanding of trajectories of mariculture development around the world. We analyse mariculture development trends at the country level, drawing on diffusion of innovation theory. We show that most countries follow predictable patterns of development that are associated with key economic and governance indicators, such as regulatory quality. We also show that production of some taxa (for example, molluscs) is more strongly associated with stable production over time, as is growing a diversity of species. Taken together, our results suggest that enabling policies may unlock mariculture growth opportunities and that strategies that emphasize production of a diversity of species could contribute to a more stable mariculture industry. Further, by assessing each country’s trajectory of mariculture development in relation to its production potential, we consider the limits and opportunities for future mariculture growth and its contribution to sustainable food systems. Seafood farming in the ocean has developed over decades following innovation diffusion S-shaped curves. Some countries have underdeveloped potential and, in others, current overproduction can become more sustainable.
ISSN:2398-9629
2398-9629
DOI:10.1038/s41893-019-0395-y