Quantifying the Environmental Performance of the Oyster ( Crassostrea gigas ) Supply Chain: A Life Cycle Assessment in Dalian, China

Haochen Hou, Fengfan Han, Jie Song, Fei Jia, Yang Bai, Zhen Ma, Zhongming Huo () and Ying Liu
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Haochen Hou: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Fengfan Han: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Jie Song: Key Laboratory of Land and Sea Ecological Governance and Systematic Regulation, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Shandong Academy for Environmental Planning, Jinan 250101, China
Fei Jia: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Yang Bai: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Zhen Ma: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Zhongming Huo: College of Fisheries and Life Science, Dalian Ocean University, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China
Ying Liu: Key Laboratory of Environment Controlled Aquaculture (Dalian Ocean University) Ministry of Education, 52 Heishijiao Street, Dalian 116023, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 16, 1-16

Abstract: Aquaculture is recognized as a critical contributor to global high-quality protein provision and food security maintenance. As the world’s most extensively cultivated bivalve species, the Pacific oyster ( Crassostrea gigas ) holds significant ecological and socioeconomic value. However, environmental impacts associated with its supply chain remain inadequately quantified. In this study, a cradle-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) framework was implemented to evaluate the oyster production supply chain in Dalian, China, encompassing breeding, aquaculture, and processing stages and eleven environmental impact categories were systematically quantified. The results demonstrate that the aquaculture stage dominates the life cycle environmental footprint, contributing 88.9% of the total impacts. Marine aquatic ecotoxicity potential (MAETP) was identified as the predominant category, representing 92% of impacts within this stage. To advance sustainable development, further quantification of environmental impact drivers is recommended. Additionally, the feasibility of renewable energy adoption must be assessed, intelligent aquaculture management systems developed, and integrated evaluation models established. This study provides a useful reference for LCA methodology advancement in China’s aquaculture sector while contributing to global aquatic Life Cycle Inventory databases.

Keywords: life cycle assessment; aquaculture; environmental impact; oyster (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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