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Life Cycle Assessment of Oyster Farming in the Po Delta, Northern Italy

Author

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  • Elena Tamburini

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Elisa Anna Fano

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Castaldelli

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, Via L. Borsari 46, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Edoardo Turolla

    (Istituto Delta Ecologia Applicata, Via B. Bartok 29, 44124 Ferrara, Italy)

Abstract

Oysters represent an important portion of the world’s total aquaculture production. In recent years, in Italy, oyster farming has progressively increased its role in the economic growth of the aquaculture sector and still has great potential for growth. As in any other production, oyster farming generates environmental impacts over an oyster’s life cycle, due to material, energy, fuel, and water use. The aim of this work was to carry out a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) of 1 kg of fresh oysters of commercial size produced in the Po delta area, northern Italy. Two scenarios were considered. The current scenario provides for oyster seed purchasing from France and transport to Italy, whereas the alternative scenario includes in situ seed production in order to realize a complete local and traceable supply chain. Eco-indicator ® 99-H and ReCiPe ® midpoint (H) v.1.12 were used to perform the impact assessments. The overall impacts of the two scenarios were very similar and indicated that the main hotspots were the fattening and prefattening phases of farming, which were common in both scenarios. Focusing the analysis on the first stages, transport from France had a greater impact than did local seed production, emphasizing the importance of a short supply chain in aquaculture production.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Tamburini & Elisa Anna Fano & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Edoardo Turolla, 2019. "Life Cycle Assessment of Oyster Farming in the Po Delta, Northern Italy," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(4), pages 1-17, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jresou:v:8:y:2019:i:4:p:170-:d:281900
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elena Tamburini & Paola Pedrini & Maria Gabriella Marchetti & Elisa Anna Fano & Giuseppe Castaldelli, 2015. "Life Cycle Based Evaluation of Environmental and Economic Impacts of Agricultural Productions in the Mediterranean Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(3), pages 1-21, March.
    2. John Marra, 2005. "When will we tame the oceans?," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7048), pages 175-176, July.
    3. Richard S. Cottrell & Kirsty L. Nash & Benjamin S. Halpern & Tomas A. Remenyi & Stuart P. Corney & Aysha Fleming & Elizabeth A. Fulton & Sara Hornborg & Alexandra Johne & Reg A. Watson & Julia L. Blan, 2019. "Food production shocks across land and sea," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 2(2), pages 130-137, February.
    4. Lozano, Sebastián & Iribarren, Diego & Moreira, María Teresa & Feijoo, Gumersindo, 2010. "Environmental impact efficiency in mussel cultivation," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 54(12), pages 1269-1277.
    5. Marzano, Annalisa, 2013. "Harvesting the Sea: The Exploitation of Marine Resources in the Roman Mediterranean," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199675623.
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    Cited by:

    1. Cheila Almeida & Philippe Loubet & Tamíris Pacheco da Costa & Paula Quinteiro & Jara Laso & David Baptista de Sousa & Ronan Cooney & Sinead Mellett & Guido Sonnemann & Carlos José Rodríguez & Neil Row, 2022. "Packaging environmental impact on seafood supply chains: A review of life cycle assessment studies," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1961-1978, December.
    2. Daniela Summa & Elena Tamisari & Mattia Lanzoni & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elena Tamburini, 2025. "How Reducing Fossil-Based Plastic Use Can Help the Overall Sustainability of Oyster Farming: The Case of the Gulf of La Spezia," Resources, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-21, January.
    3. Daniela Summa & Edoardo Turolla & Mattia Lanzoni & Elena Tamisari & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elena Tamburini, 2023. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of Two Different Oyster ( Crassostrea gigas ) Farming Strategies in the Sacca di Goro, Northern Adriatic Sea, Italy," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(6), pages 1-14, May.
    4. Antonio Cortés & Sara González‐García & Amaya Franco‐Uría & Maria Teresa Moreira & Gumersindo Feijoo, 2022. "Evaluation of the environmental sustainability of the inshore great scallop (Pecten maximus) fishery in Galicia," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(6), pages 1920-1933, December.
    5. Dheanara Pinka & Kazuyo Matsubae, 2023. "Global Warming Potential and Waste Handling of Pearl Farming in Ago Bay, Mie Prefecture, Japan," Resources, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-13, June.

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