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Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Proves that Manila Clam Farming ( Ruditapes Philippinarum ) is a Fully Sustainable Aquaculture Practice and a Carbon Sink

Author

Listed:
  • Edoardo Turolla

    (Istituto Delta Ecologia Applicata, 44124 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Giuseppe Castaldelli

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Elisa Anna Fano

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

  • Elena Tamburini

    (Department of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy)

Abstract

Manila clam ( Ruditapes philippinarum , Adams and Reeve, 1850) farming is a quantitatively important and valuable form of aquaculture production worldwide but, to our best knowledge, no life cycle assessments (LCA) have been undertaken on it. However, being a filter feeder and producing a thick shell during the growing cycle, the capacity of Manila clam to remove nutrients, carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous from the marine environment potentially has some positive effects on the environment. This study was performed in the Sacca di Goro lagoon, located in the southernmost part of the Po River Delta, in the northwestern Adriatic Sea. The LCA of clam farming from a cradle-to-gate perspective have been carried out, including the production stages as seed procuring, sowing, harvesting, depuration and packaging to obtain 1 ton of fresh ready-to-sell clams. The results show that area preparation, fuel combustion and plastic bags were the main contributors to the environmental impacts. The potential capability as a carbon sink of 1 ton of clams has been calculated and the effects on eutrophication reduction by fixing nitrogen and phosphorous in shells, with a net sequestration of 444.55 kg of CO 2 , 1.54 kg of N and 0.31 kg of P per year.

Suggested Citation

  • Edoardo Turolla & Giuseppe Castaldelli & Elisa Anna Fano & Elena Tamburini, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Proves that Manila Clam Farming ( Ruditapes Philippinarum ) is a Fully Sustainable Aquaculture Practice and a Carbon Sink," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-12, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:13:p:5252-:d:377586
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Murray, Grant & D’Anna, Linda, 2015. "Seeing shellfish from the seashore: The importance of values and place in perceptions of aquaculture and marine social–ecological system interactions," Marine Policy, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 125-133.
    2. 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.
    3. Elena Tamburini & Edoardo Turolla & Elisa Anna Fano & Giuseppe Castaldelli, 2020. "Sustainability of Mussel ( Mytilus Galloprovincialis ) Farming in the Po River Delta, Northern Italy, Based on a Life Cycle Assessment Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jesse Sherry & Jennifer Koester, 2020. "Life Cycle Assessment of Aquaculture Stewardship Council Certified Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo salar )," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(15), pages 1-15, July.
    2. Arianna Martini & Leonardo Aguiari & Fabrizio Capoccioni & Marco Martinoli & Riccardo Napolitano & Giacomo Pirlo & Nicolò Tonachella & Domitilla Pulcini, 2023. "Is Manila Clam Farming Environmentally Sustainable? A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) Approach Applied to an Italian Ruditapes philippinarum Hatchery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-9, February.
    3. 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.
    4. 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.
    5. Evangelos Kallitsis & Anna Korre & Dimitris Mousamas & Pavlos Avramidis, 2020. "Environmental Life Cycle Assessment of Mediterranean Sea Bass and Sea Bream," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-11, November.
    6. Haochen Hou & Haiheng Wang & Anqi Ren & Yun Zhang & Ying Liu, 2022. "Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of the Manufacturing of Conventional and Innovative Aerators: A Case Study in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-11, November.

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