Circular Aquaculture Innovation/Global/2025
Evaluating nutrient circularity in integrated aquaculture systems: criteria and indicators
Peer-Reviewed
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This 2025 scientific article in the Journal of Cleaner Production proposes criteria and indicators for evaluating nutrient circularity in integrated aquaculture systems. As interest in circular aquaculture grows, there is a need for consistent ways to measure whether systems are actually recycling nutrients and using resources efficiently, rather than simply claiming to be circular. The study focuses on recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and aquaponic systems, in which water and nutrients from fish production are reused, for example to grow plants. It develops a structured indicator set covering several dimensions: productivity, the degree of nutrient recycling, resource-use efficiency, self-sufficiency in inputs, and complementarity between system components. These indicators allow researchers and practitioners to compare systems, identify where nutrients are being lost and track improvements over time. Although developed in a global context, the method is transferable to Southeast Asian integrated systems such as rice-fish, IMTA and pond-crop combinations. Classed as direct evidence under Circular Economy and Resource Efficiency, the article is particularly useful for monitoring and evaluation design. It can guide the selection of circularity indicators for pilot projects such as AquASEAN, support the development of performance standards, and help researchers produce comparable evidence on the environmental benefits of circular aquaculture.
Additional Details
- Author(s)
- Journal of Cleaner Production
- Type
- Scientific article
- Aquaculture / Fisheries Dimension
- Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) and aquaponic systems
- Relevance to Climate Aquaculture
- Direct
- Thematic Area
- Circular Economy & Resource Efficiency
- Climate Issue
- Measuring resource efficiency and nutrient loss in aquaculture
- Adaptation / Key Contribution
- Indicator set covering productivity, recycling, efficiency, self-sufficiency and complementarity
- How to Use / Notes
- Use for M&E design and circularity indicator selection