Evaluation of nutrient bioextraction by seaweed and shellfish aquaculture in Korea

Although Korea is third in seaweed production and second in shellfish production globally, this is the first study evaluating ecosystem services of seaweed and shellfish aquaculture in Korea. The objective of this study is to evaluate nutrient bioextraction capacities of major seaweed and shellfish species aquacultured in Korea. C (C) removal of three major aquacultured seaweed species, Neopyropia yezoensis, Saccharina japonica, and Undaria pinnatifida were 24,247, 8,423, and 12,758 tons, respectively, in 2016. N (N) removal of these species was 4,088, 732, and 1,244 tons, respectively. The C and N removal of the Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) were 14,693 and 1,050 tons, respectively. Manila clams (Venerupis philippinarum) removed 2,120 tons of C and 136.5 tons of N. Together, 161,846 tons of CO2 and 7,251 tons of N were removed by three major seaweed species and two shellfish species. These values are significant amounts, equivalent to 5.7% of CO2 and 8.6% of N discharged from all wastewater treatment plants in Korea. These results suggest that nutrient bioextraction by aquacultured seaweed and shellfish can be a cost efficient, affordable, and equitable solution for coastal nutrient management programs in Korea and elsewhere.

Automated summary

This study is the first to evaluate ecosystem services of seaweed and shellfish aquaculture in Korea, showing that nutrient bioextraction by aquacultured seaweed and shellfish can be a cost efficient, affordable, and equitable solution for coastal nutrient management programs. Major seaweed and shellfish species removed significant amounts of carbon and nitrogen in 2016.