EDFish

Seaweed to Slow Down Climate Change: Ready? Or Not?

By Rod Fujita / Bio / Published: August 15, 2023

Seaweed is a hot solution for mitigating climate change. Can this carbon-absorbing powerhouse really help?

Seaweed is having a moment. I’ve been working on seaweed for 40 years, and I’ve never seen so many headlines about how seaweed can save the planet.

I can understand why. The need to save the planet is more pressing than ever. We must now dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and, at the same time, increase the planet’s capacity to remove carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere to prevent even more catastrophic impacts of global warming.

Posted in Science/Research, Seafood / Tagged Aquaculture, Blue Carbon, carbon, climate, Climate change, research, science, seaweed, seaweed farming, sustainability | Comments are closed

UN Food Systems Summit: Why we need more ambition and more action

By EDF Oceans / Published: August 3, 2023

Jose Luis Chicoma reflects on what needs to happen to create a sustainable food system.

By Jose Luis Chicoma and Karly Kelso

Last week, global leaders gathered in Rome for the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) +2 Stocktaking Moment, a follow-up event to evaluate commitments to transforming their food systems and progress in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) made in 2021. In short, it was a time to gather and take stock of where we are – and where we should go next.

How did it shape up?

In this interview, Jose Luis Chicoma, former Peru Minister of Production, Yale World Fellow and Senior Advisor to EDF Climate-Resilient Food Systems, who was present in Rome, shares personal reflections and his insights, concerns and hopes for the future. Food systems and ocean health go hand in hand, and reflections on aquatic blue food in concert with terrestrial food systems are key.

Posted in Climate and Fisheries Series, International, Policy, Science/Research, Seafood / Tagged Aquaculture, Climate change, climate-resilient fisheries, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, food, Food Security, Food Systems, Seafood, sustainability, Sustainable Seafood, UN Food Systems Summit | Comments are closed

EDF’s Tour of GreenWave Highlights Aquaculture’s Potential

By EDF Oceans / Published: August 1, 2023

Nonprofit GreenWave supports training and innovation in ocean farming.

By Ruth Driscoll-Lovejoy and Amy Folkerts

Ocean farmers are making a splash in the sustainable seafood market — and they don’t need state-of-the-art facilities to do it.

Thimble Island Ocean Farm in Connecticut is a commercial seaweed and shellfish farm and serves as an innovation hub for GreenWave, a nonprofit replicating and scaling regenerative aquaculture. On a recent EDF visit, our team saw first-hand how GreenWave is expanding marine aquaculture while training and supporting ocean farmers. According to GreenWave, for aquaculture to be sustainable and profitable, farmers need access to the right tools and community support.

Posted in Seafood / Tagged Aquaculture, Climate change, collaboration, Food Security, learning network, Oceans, seaweed, seaweed farming, seaweed farms, Sustainable Seafood, teaching | Comments are closed

Linking knowledge and action for climate-ready fisheries: Putting the puzzle together

By EDF Oceans / Published: July 25, 2023

Through collaboration and action, US fisheries can be managed with methods to enhance climate resilience.

By Julia Mason and Sarah Weisberg

What will it take to create climate-resilient fisheries?

Fisheries scientists and managers across the US have been sensing a change in the air — and not just the highest temperatures ever recorded, although they probably contribute. There’s a growing sense of climate urgency in fishery management conversations and agendas.

Posted in Climate and Fisheries Series, Global Fisheries / Tagged Climate change, climate resilience, climate-resilient fisheries, collaboration, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, Fishery Management, Fishing, small-scale fisheries, sustainable fisheries | Comments are closed

The ocean as a climate champion: Capitol Hill Ocean Week paints the town blue

By EDF Oceans / Published: July 18, 2023

At Capitol Hill Ocean Week, EDF discussed the intersections between ocean and climate – and the potential for change.

By Lucy Vogt, EDF Seafood Policy Intern

Last month, Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) welcomed environmental businesses, leaders, and shakers — and one brand-new intern.

CHOW investigated the intersection between the ocean and the climate by facilitating conversations about ocean opportunities. Even though the ocean covers more than 70% of the earth, produces 50% of the oxygen we need and absorbs 25% of the carbon emissions we produce, it is often perceived solely as a victim of climate change. But this massive ecosystem holds a wealth of potential climate solutions, and CHOW conversations ranged from offshore wind to maritime shipping to partnerships with coastal communities.

Posted in Policy, Seafood / Tagged Aquaculture, Blue Carbon, blue food, Capitol Hill Ocean Week, CHOW, climate solution, Fisheries, Marine Policy, Natural Climate Solutions | Comments are closed

Using sound to improve fishery management study sardines in the Philippines

By EDF Oceans / Published: June 8, 2023

Workshop participants watching the echosounder identify schools of pelagics. Photo credit Joe Warren.

By EDF’s Jose Ingles, Jimely Flores and Rod Fujita, and Joseph Warren, Stony Brook University

Small fish have a big role. Fisheries for sardine, herring and anchovy species collectively produce more yield than any other fisheries worldwide and account for about one-third of total global catches arriving in ports. These fisheries span the globe and are critical for supporting livelihoods, aquaculture, food security, ecotourism and terrestrial animal husbandry (many catches are used to make fishmeal and fish oil). Read More »

Posted in International, Science/Research / Tagged acoustic, climate-resilient fisheries, data, Fisheries, Fisheries Management, Fishery Management, Philippines, research, Sardines, Seafood, sustainable fisheries | Comments are closed