California shellfish farmers adapt to climate change

Because of their proximity to the ocean, Californians get to enjoy locally-sourced oysters, mussels, abalone and clams. Most of the shellfish consumed here come from aquaculture farms along the coast — from San Diego to Humboldt County. And because the animals are filter feeders that siphon tiny plankton out of seawater, growing them is environmentally sustainable. 

But due to rising greenhouse gas emissions, the ocean has become more acidic, conditions hostile to shellfish growth.

“There have been calls across the state and across the U.S. to increase aquaculture output because it's so sustainable. But then at the same time, it's a very vulnerable industry,” said Melissa Ward, a postdoctoral fellow at San Diego State University. 

In a new study, SDSU and Oregon State University researchers interviewed California shellfish growers to find out how they perceive ocean acidification, and to learn what strategies they think will help their operations adapt to changing environmental conditions. 

“This study is fairly unique in that we're getting information directly from the people who are being affected by change and learning directly from their experiences,” said geographer Arielle Levine, director of the sustainability program in SDSU’s College of Arts and Letters.. 

Ward added: “They're on the front lines of observing climate change and they also are going to be most well-suited to describe what they think they need to adapt to those changes.”

Growing threat

Burning coal, oil and natural gas emits carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. About a third of that CO₂ is absorbed by the ocean, reducing pH levels. 

As the water becomes more acidic, the calcium carbonate shellfish need for their shells is less abundant.

“And so they're basically running out of building blocks to build shell with,” said Ward. “And that can be particularly challenging for a very very small shellfish that’s just forming.” 

Most shellfish are spawned in land-based hatcheries. When they’re about the size of a fingernail, they’re moved to floating nurseries in the ocean. 

“And at that point, they're just sort of subjected to whatever conditions and whatever food floats by in the water,” said Ward.

If the water is acidic, the baby shellfish may grow more slowly, or even die, making it harder for aquaculture farms to remain viable. 

Strategies for adaptation

Interviews with shellfish growers revealed that while they are concerned about the impact of ocean acidification on their operations, they often lack the scientific instrumentation to know when it’s happening.

Growers also worry about other environmental threats such as warmer water, heavy rainfall and pollution — which all contribute to the spread of marine diseases — as well as toxic algal blooms. 

“Sometimes, growers would lose 90, 100% of their shellfish in a given area, and they won't really know why,” said Ward. “It's sort of a story of multiple stressors;  you can imagine a time when the water is particularly warm or there's a rainfall event, and ultimately you may reach a tipping point that the shellfish in the water just can't remain resilient to.”

Many growers said they need access to scientific resources to pinpoint the environmental factors involved in large die-off events, and to potentially prevent them. 

Policy change

All of the shellfish growers felt that regulatory and permitting requirements for shellfish operations need to be adjusted to respond to the rapidly changing environment. For example, it might be wise to diversify a shellfish operation by growing a new species that is better adapted to ocean acidification. But obtaining the required permits for that can be onerous.

“California is likely the hardest state to get a permit for shellfish aquaculture, which is seemingly at odds with the messaging that's coming down from the top,” Ward said. While state leaders recognize that shellfish aquaculture is sustainable and an opportunity for economic growth, it can take years and hundreds of thousands of dollars for a grower to obtain a permit for a new species. “And they just can't afford that time and money,” she added. 

“We need to maintain the environmental protections that we have in California, but if we really want the industry to be resilient to environmental change, we have to kind of allow for flexibility in farm management.”

Another adaptive strategy identified by shellfish growers was a need for more networking opportunities — not only with other growers, but also with managers, scientists and policymakers — to share information and best practices for adapting to environmental change.

The study is published in the journal Ocean & Coastal Management. The researchers hope it will serve as a roadmap for improving the resilience of the aquaculture industry in California. 

“This work really draws a connection between environmental change that's happening and will continue to happen, and how that's not just affecting the species in the ocean, but also the people who rely on these species,” said Levine.

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About San Diego State University 

San Diego State University is a major public research institution that provides transformative experiences for its more than 36,000 students. SDSU offers bachelor’s degrees in 96 areas, master’s degrees in 84 fields and doctorates in 23 areas, with additional certificates and programs at regional microsites. SDSU ranks as the number 1 California State University in federal research support, as one of the top public research universities in California. In addition to academic offerings at SDSU, SDSU Imperial Valley and SDSU Georgia, SDSU Global Campus offers online training, certificates and degrees in areas of study designed to meet the needs of students everywhere. Students participate in transformational research, international experiences, sustainability and entrepreneurship initiatives, internships and mentoring, and a broad range of student life and leadership opportunities. SDSU is committed to inclusive excellence and is known for its efforts in advancing diversity and inclusion. SDSU is nationally recognized for its study abroad initiatives, veterans’ programs and support of LGBTQA+ students, as well as its powerhouse Division I Athletics Program. About 50% of SDSU’s undergraduate and graduate students are students of color. The university resides on Kumeyaay land and was most recently recognized as an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI). SDSU is also a long-standing Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI). The university’s rich campus life and location offers opportunities for students to lead and engage with the creative and performing arts, career and internship opportunities with SDSU’s more than 491,000 living alumni, and the vibrant cultural life of the greater San Diego and U.S.- Mexico region.