Global: The main risks for growing mussels and shellfish in a changing climate

The global shellfish aquaculture industry is at a crossroads: there is great enthusiasm and optimism about the future potential of the industry, and at the same time, environmental pressures are mounting that threaten the health of both wild shellfish and aquaculture populations. There are many environmental stressors that can affect the health of shellfish (both individual and collective), most of which are interconnected and exacerbated by increasing climatic pressures. The main climate threats (risks) to which the mussel and shellfish industry is exposed are: The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Climate Change Assessment 2021 looks sobering. It outlines a future in which humanity is already poised for at least 1.5°C warming by 2100. And this is in the best case, assuming that people will make immediate and decisive efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 1.5°C may not sound like much, but even in this best-case scenario, the planet's oceans are subject to ...