Ocean Acidification and Aquacultured Seaweeds: Progress and Knowledge Gaps

Abstract

This systematic review aimed to synthesise the existing studies regarding the effects of ocean acidification (OA) on seaweed aquaculture. Ocean acidification scenarios may increase the productivity of aquacultured seaweeds, but this depends on species-specific tolerance ranges. Conversely, seaweed productivity may be reduced, with ensuing economic losses. We specifically addressed questions on: how aquacultured seaweeds acclimatise with an increase in oceanic CO2; the effects of OA on photosynthetic rates and nutrient uptake; and the knowledge gaps in mitigation measures for seaweed farming in OA environments. Articles were searched by using Google Scholar, followed by Scopus and Web of Science databases, limiting the publications from 2001 to 2022. Our review revealed that, among all the OA-related studies on macroalgae, only a relatively small proportion (n < 85) have examined the physiological responses of aquacultured seaweeds. However, it is generally agreed that these seaweeds cannot acclimatise when critical biological systems are compromised. The existing knowledge gaps regarding mitigation approaches are unbalanced and have overly focused on monitoring and cultivation methods. Future work should emphasise effective and implementable actions against OA while linking the physiological changes of aquacultured seaweeds with production costs and profits.

Keywords

• acclimatisation
• macroalgae
• physiological response
• productivity