| dc.description | The impact of climate change on the aquaculture industry is becoming an increasingly relevant topic for farmers, managers, and researchers alike. The growth and expansion of this industry is contextualized by the changes in ocean properties both occurring and predicted to occur, as a result of climate change. In Atlantic Canada, planning for the future of bivalve farming should incorporate predictions of how species will be impacted by climate change, and as well how stakeholders perceive these impacts. This study coupled bioenergetic models for the eastern oyster (C. virginica), and the blue mussel (M. edulis), with high resolution climate models to predict the performance and growth of these species in the near future (2046-2050), compared to the past (1986-1990). Results indicate that changing sea surface temperatures may benefit C. virginica more than M. edulis in terms of future growth, due to their differing thermal physiologies. Furthermore, this study identified three main perceptions held by stakeholders regarding how climate change will impact bivalve aquaculture. Although stakeholders recognized the impacts of changing ocean properties on bivalve performance, it was less clear how farming costs, planning, and activities would be impacted. Further, a divide was identified between how farmers and managers perceive the effects of climate change on bivalve aquaculture. Results from this study should be used to plan for the future of bivalve farming in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, two Canadian provinces heavily invested in bivalve aquaculture. Recognizing the importance of bridging the science-policy interface, information from both modelling efforts as well as stakeholder input should be used to create a resilient future for bivalve farming. | en_US |
