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Rapid growth in greenhouse gas emissions from the adoption of industrial-scale aquaculture

Author

Listed:
  • Junji Yuan

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Jian Xiang

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Deyan Liu

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Hojeong Kang

    (Yonsei University)

  • Tiehu He

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    University of Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Sunghyun Kim

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences
    Smithsonian Environmental Research Center)

  • Yongxin Lin

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

  • Chris Freeman

    (Bangor University)

  • Weixin Ding

    (Chinese Academy of Sciences)

Abstract

Fisheries capture has plateaued, creating ever-greater reliance on aquaculture to feed growing populations. Aquaculture volumes now exceed those of capture fisheries globally1,2, with China dominating production through major land-use change; more than half of Chinese freshwater aquaculture systems have been converted from paddy fields1,3. However, the greenhouse gas implications of this expansion have yet to be effectively quantified. Here, we measure year-round methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from paddy fields and new, extensively managed crab aquaculture ponds. The conversion increased associated global warming potentials from 8.15 ± 0.43 to 28.0 ± 4.1 MgCO2eq ha−1, primarily due to increased CH4 emissions. After compiling a worldwide database of different freshwater aquaculture systems, the top 21 producers were estimated to release 6.04 ± 1.17 TgCH4 and 36.7 ± 6.1 GgN2O in 2014. We found that 80.3% of the total CH4 emitted originated in shallow earthen aquaculture systems, with far lower emissions from intensified systems with continuous aeration4. We therefore propose that greater adoption of aerated systems is urgently required to address globally significant rises in CH4 emissions from the conversion of paddy fields to aquaculture.

Suggested Citation

  • Junji Yuan & Jian Xiang & Deyan Liu & Hojeong Kang & Tiehu He & Sunghyun Kim & Yongxin Lin & Chris Freeman & Weixin Ding, 2019. "Rapid growth in greenhouse gas emissions from the adoption of industrial-scale aquaculture," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 9(4), pages 318-322, April.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:9:y:2019:i:4:d:10.1038_s41558-019-0425-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-019-0425-9
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Liu, Duan & Tang, Runcheng & Xie, Jun & Tian, Jingjing & Shi, Rui & Zhang, Kai, 2020. "Valuation of ecosystem services of rice–fish coculture systems in Ruyuan County, China," Ecosystem Services, Elsevier, vol. 41(C).
    2. T. Vamsi Nagaraju & Sunil B. Malegole & Babloo Chaudhary & Gobinath Ravindran, 2022. "Assessment of Environmental Impact of Aquaculture Ponds in the Western Delta Region of Andhra Pradesh," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Nina Khanna & Jiang Lin & Xu Liu & Wenjun Wang, 2024. "An assessment of China’s methane mitigation potential and costs and uncertainties through 2060," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Li, Yue & Feng, Hao & Wu, Wenjie & Jiang, Yu & Sun, Jian & Zhang, Yuefang & Cheng, Hui & Li, Cheng & Dong, Qin’ge & Siddique, Kadambot H.M. & Chen, Ji, 2022. "Decreased greenhouse gas intensity of winter wheat production under plastic film mulching in semi-arid areas," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    5. Thongsouk Sompouviset & Yanting Ma & Eakkarin Sukkaew & Zhaoxia Zheng & Ai Zhang & Wei Zheng & Ziyan Li & Bingnian Zhai, 2023. "The Effects of Plastic Mulching Combined with Different Fertilizer Applications on Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Intensity, and Apple Yield in Northwestern China," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-23, June.
    6. Tiehu He & Weixin Ding & Xiaoli Cheng & Yanjiang Cai & Yulong Zhang & Huijuan Xia & Xia Wang & Jiehao Zhang & Kerong Zhang & Quanfa Zhang, 2024. "Meta-analysis shows the impacts of ecological restoration on greenhouse gas emissions," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    7. Berna Serener & Dervis Kirikkaleli & Kwaku Addai, 2022. "Patents on Environmental Technologies, Financial Development, and Environmental Degradation in Sweden: Evidence from Novel Fourier-Based Approaches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-19, December.

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