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Study Shows Restored Oyster Reefs Could Add $12 Trillion Annually
Confirmed
In Short: Researchers in China published a study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science indicating that restored oyster reefs could add $12 trillion annually to global health and economic benefits.
The study, led by scientists Matteo Convertino and Yuhan Wu, identified nine other 'hotspot countries' with high ecopotential for oyster reefs: China, Australia, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, France, Germany, and Italy.
The researchers used public databases to determine where oyster reefs are currently located and where they could form under restorative circumstances.
They estimated the ecological values of oyster reef presence, such as water filtration and shoreline stabilization, alongside the pure monetary value added to the international oyster trade.
The study found that oyster banks could provide significant payoffs towards both the global seafood industry and efforts to counteract climate change.
Nitrogen removal, carbon capture, and water purification make oyster banks potential big earners and frontline fighters against climate change.
The researchers projected an annual Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) of over $25 billion from fully restored reefs in the United States.
However, they noted that global warming generally decreases the habitat quality of oyster reefs, and the current situation is very suboptimal.
Convertino said, “If Earth’s current climate trajectory doesn’t improve, the planet will lose roughly 30% of its remaining oyster reefs within a decade.”
He added, “This situation might accelerate quite fast… we could lose all oyster reefs by 2100 if we do nothing.”
What this adds
The study adds new details on the economic and environmental benefits of restored oyster reefs, including the identification of specific 'hotspot countries' and the projected GEP for the United States.
The study highlights the importance of international cooperation in oyster bed expansion and protection to achieve these benefits.
Background
Researchers published a study in Frontiers in Marine Science indicating that restored oyster reefs could add $12 trillion annually to global health and economic benefits.
Researchers in China have published a study in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science indicating that restored oyster reefs could add $12 trillion annually to global health and economic benefits.
What's confirmed
- The study, led by scientists Matteo Convertino and Yuhan Wu, identified nine other 'hotspot countries' with high ecopotential for oyster reefs: China, Australia, Chile, Japan, South Korea, Argentina, France, Germany, and Italy.
- The researchers used public databases to determine where oyster reefs are currently located and where they could form under restorative circumstances.
- They estimated the ecological values of oyster reef presence, such as water filtration and shoreline stabilization, alongside the pure monetary value added to the international oyster trade.
- The study found that oyster banks could provide significant payoffs towards both the global seafood industry and efforts to counteract climate change.
- Nitrogen removal, carbon capture, and water purification make oyster banks potential big earners and frontline fighters against climate change.
- The researchers projected an annual Gross Ecosystem Product (GEP) of over $25 billion from fully restored reefs in the United States.
- However, they noted that global warming generally decreases the habitat quality of oyster reefs, and the current situation is very suboptimal.
What's still developing
- But authors of a study published Tuesday in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science believe that humans, not just sea critters, stand to gain highly from oyster reef restoration.
- Researchers in China believe that international oyster bed expansion and protection would bring about major economic and environmental benefits.
- (CN) — Within the last hundred years, human-caused pollution, overharvesting and climate change have resulted in over 80% of the world’s oyster reefs being degraded or destroyed.
- Also known as oyster beds or oyster banks, these large colonies of amassed mollusks formed on rocks or other hard surfaces attract fish, birds, crustaceans and marine flora — much like coral reefs.
- Many were walking off with giant balloons and a few people tried to manage the long poles of delegate signs.
- Even the “rich people boxes” were filled, he said.
- “I gotta do a little bit better in the back,” he said.
- “We were a laughingstock all over the world,” Trump said, referring to his predecessor.
- “The Democrats are the party of hatred,” Vance said.
- Trump and Vice President JD Vance were among those to address the crowd.
- The dubious promise would likely cost more than $1 trillion and require congressional approval, and would further fan inflation concerns and exacerbate the country’s nearly $1.8 trillion annual budget deficit.
- They quantified the combined output as “Gross Ecosystem Product” — GEP, or what they call “ecopotential” — without costs of prerequisite restoration factored in.
Sources
- Courthouse Newslink
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- Ceewlink
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- Warpbeatlink
- Fox Businesslink
- AFPlink
- Ars Technicalink
- Visualcapitalistlink
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- WarpBeat — background on Study Shows Restored Oyster Reefs Could Add $12 Trillion to Global Health link
- WarpBeat — background on Study Shows Restored Oyster Reefs Could Add $12 Trillion Annually link