University of Tasmania
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

The long and narrow path for novel cell-based seafood to reduce fishing pressure for marine ecosystem recovery

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-21, 08:27 authored by Halpern, BS, Maier, J, Lahr, HJ, Blasco, G, Costello, C, Richard CottrellRichard Cottrell, Deschenes, O, Farraro, DM, Froehlich, HE, McDonald, GG, Millage, KD, Weir, MJ
Cell-based seafood is an emerging novel food, with many start-up companies aspiring for ocean conservation benefits through expanded market share that displaces wild-caught seafood. However, the ability for cell-based seafood to achieve this conservation outcome is often oversimplified and will rely on an extensive, and we find somewhat tenuous, chain of events. Here, we outline the technological, behavioural, market and ecological changes that must occur along this pathway, and conclude that fisheries recoveries and collateral ocean benefits are unlikely to result from cell-based seafood technology. In particular, we detail nine necessary steps and argue that failure at any one step could hinder or even eliminate cell-based seafood's conservation effects. We additionally draw comparisons to aquaculture and share broader lessons for other demand-driven product interventions.

History

Publication title

Fish and Fisheries

Volume

22

Pagination

652-664

ISSN

1467-2960

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Blackwell Publishing Ltd

Place of publication

9600 Garsington Rd, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox4 2Dg

Rights statement

© 2021 John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the agricultural, food and veterinary sciences; Expanding knowledge in the environmental sciences