Swedish aquaculture and biodiversity

The initial phase of the project will focus on identifying opportunities for developing a robust methodology to evaluate various production systems in terms of their impact on biodiversity—both in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The overarching objective is to establish and apply a life cycle assessment (LCA) perspective, thereby enabling the quantification of biodiversity impacts per metric ton of farmed seafood. Alternative methodological approaches may however be required, based on state of knowledge and the availability of relevant data.

In a next step, the project will assess the most important species and production systems currently utilized in Sweden with respect to their biodiversity impacts. This evaluation aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current situation and to identify the sector’s potential for sustainable development. The number of case studies conducted will depend on data availability and time constraints. The findings will be contextualized by comparing them to other relevant food commodities.

The project will rely on existing data and be conducted in close collaboration with experts from academia, governmental agencies, and industry organizations to ensure the relevance and applicability of data, methodologies, and outcomes.