Achieving Sustainable Aquatic Food Systems in a Changing Climate: Building Resilience through Blue Transformation

About this Research Topic

Background

Blue Transformation is the title and goal of a UN Food and Agriculture Organization initiative focused on transforming aquatic food systems to be more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient against climate change. Here, resilience refers to the ability of aquatic food systems to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from adverse climate events. This concept extends to enhancing the systems' capacity to absorb stress, maintain function in the face of external pressures, and adapt, reorganize, and evolve, making them more capable of withstanding future challenges. With the rising demand for sustainable and nutritious food options, the aquatic foods sector faces significant challenges in terms of maintaining sustainability in the face of climate change.

The goal of this Research Topic is to collate and synthesize research that addresses ways of enhancing the sustainability and climate resilience of aquatic food systems under the Blue Transformation framework. Papers on this topic will address the multifaceted impacts of climate change while delineating specific adaptation and mitigation strategies to bolster their resilience. Studies may include analysis and review of: the vulnerability of aquatic food systems to climate change; evaluation of synergies with or impacts of other sectors of the ‘blue economy; and technological innovations to enhance resilience.

To provide novel insights on how to construct resilience to climate change within aquatic food systems, this topic underscores the need for wide-ranging investigations into:

• Analysis of how Climate Change Impacts Aquatic Food Systems, for example through (1) Rising temperatures impacting fish populations and altering their distribution. (2) Ocean acidification threatening shellfish and coral reefs. (3) Extreme weather events disrupting fisheries and aquaculture operations and; (4) Sea-level rise inundating coastal areas and impacting coastal communities.

• Blue Transformation for Climate Resilience: Promoting responsible aquaculture methods that reduce environmental impacts and enhance climate resilience. This includes minimizing pollution, conserving resources, and adopting climate-smart technologies.

• Developing climate-resilient aquaculture practices, such as: (1) Diversifying species: Reducing reliance on single species vulnerable to climate change. (2) Improving water quality and enhancing water management to withstand extreme events. (3) Developing climate-smart feeds by reducing reliance on fishmeal and fish oil.

• Sustainable Fisheries: Implementing ecosystem-based fisheries management to: (1) Protect critical habitats, ensuring the long-term health of fish populations; (2) Reduce bycatch by minimizing the impact on non-target species; (3) Support fish stock recovery by allowing fish populations to adapt to changing conditions.

• Coastal Ecosystem Restoration as natural defense against climate impacts: Protecting and restoring coastal ecosystems like mangroves, seagrasses, and salt marshes, which: (1) Act as natural buffers by protecting coastlines from erosion and storm surges; (2) Store carbon, which helps to mitigate climate change. (3) Provide critical habitats to support fish and other marine life.

• Equity and Inclusion: Ensuring that the benefits of Blue Transformation are shared fairly among all stakeholders, including small-scale fishers and coastal communities who are trying to adapt to climate change.

• Innovation and Technology: Utilizing technological advancements to improve efficiency and sustainability in aquatic food systems against climate change.

• Policy and Governance: Developing and implementing effective policies and governance frameworks to support Blue Transformation and climate resilience.

By addressing these themes, this research topic aims to contribute significantly to the development of sustainable, resilient, and efficient aquatic food, ensuring the long-term viability of blue transformation amidst climatic changes.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Community Case Study
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Blue food, Climate change, Aquaculture Sector, Food Sustainability, Strengthening Resilience

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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