Interactions Between Temperate Bivalve Aquaculture and Fisheries

Aquaculture production has increased at an annual rate of about 8% since the 1970’s. Currently, greater than 50% of the total fisheries production destined for human consumption comes from aquaculture and this fraction is projected to increase in the future. This has led to concerns about the direct and indirect impact of this industry on the environment and fisheries species. Bivalve culture sites are often quite extensive and thus may have a variety of cascading effects on fisheries species. This review gives an overview of ecological interactions between temperate marine bivalve aquaculture and fisheries species and highlights some recent research on the subject. Issues associated with bivalve culture include escapes of the farmed and associated species, including disease, invasive, and harmful algal bloom species. Physical effects related to grow-out and harvesting may also influence fisheries species via the addition of significant physical structure to farm areas and the modification of natural benthic and pelagic conditions. In addition, bivalve aquaculture modifies benthic organic loading with concomitant effects on benthic communities. As filter-feeders, farmed bivalves also impact plankton communities. Effects on fisheries species may be positive, negative, or neutral and are often scale-dependent.