Impact of Island Nuclear Power Project on the Spatial Distribution Pattern of Mariculture: A case Study of Niushan Island, China

Abstract

Nuclear power generation is being promoted globally as a clean energy source and is one of China’s key tools for addressing carbon peaking and carbon neutrality. The Niushan Island of China was selected as the research area and conducted detailed seasonal surveys at sea to explore the spatial distribution pattern of marine aquaculture around nuclear power project and analyze the potential impact of island nuclear power project construction on major marine aquaculture species. The results showed that, the spatial distribution pattern of mariculture around the Sea Island Nuclear Power Project is closely related to the aquaculture environment and seasonality. The main mariculture activities include Porphyra cultivation, mudflat breeding and ponding aquaculture. The envelope area of suspended sediment greater than 10 mg/L is 13.0565 km2 during the construction of the project, which may have an impact on the Porphyra cultivation. The average half-moon tide 1.0°C temperature rise envelope is 31.30 km2 in summer and 2.64 km2 in winter for the 6×AP1400 nuclear power units. The temperature rise caused by human factors may have an impact on the breeding activities of “Jiluo Sanniu Marine Ranch”.