AUTHOR=Maulu Sahya , Hasimuna Oliver J. , Haambiya Lloyd H. , Monde Concillia , Musuka Confred G. , Makorwa Timothy H. , Munganga Brian P. , Phiri Kanyembo J. , Nsekanabo Jean DaMascene TITLE=Climate Change Effects on Aquaculture Production: Sustainability Implications, Mitigation, and Adaptations JOURNAL=Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems VOLUME=5 YEAR=2021 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-food-systems/articles/10.3389/fsufs.2021.609097 DOI=10.3389/fsufs.2021.609097 ISSN=2571-581X ABSTRACT=

Aquaculture continues to significantly expand its production, making it the fastest-growing food production sector globally. However, the sustainability of the sector is at stake due to the predicted effects of climate change that are not only a future but also a present reality. In this paper, we review the potential effects of climate change on aquaculture production and its implications on the sector's sustainability. Various elements of a changing climate, such as rising temperatures, sea-level rise, diseases and harmful algal blooms, changes in rainfall patterns, the uncertainty of external inputs supplies, changes in sea surface salinity, and severe climatic events have been discussed. Furthermore, several adaptation options have been presented as well as some gaps in existing knowledge that require further investigations. Overall, climate change effects and implications on aquaculture production sustainability are expected to be both negative and positive although, the negative effects outweigh the positive ones. Adapting to the predicted changes in the short-term while taking mitigation measures in the long-term could be the only way toward sustaining the sector's production. However, successful adaptation will depend on the adaptive capacity of the producers in different regions of the world.