Life Cycle Assessment of Aquaculture Feed and Application to the Turbot Sector

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain- Energy Systems Analysis Unit, IMDEA Energía Institute, Móstoles, Spain

2 Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

Abstract

The Spanish turbot aquaculture sector holds a top position in the international market. This
activity is mainly developed along the Galician coast (NW Spain). This article evaluates the environmental
performance of Galician turbot aquaculture according to the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology.
Previously, on account of the expected relevance of feed for aquaculture, marine aquafeed production was
assessed from an LCA perspective. Environmental characterization results for marine feed production led to
identify aquafeed formulation as the focus for improvement actions. Furthermore, the environmental profile of feed for continental aquaculture was estimated and compared to that of marine aquafeed. The LCA of marine aquafeed was then implemented into the case study of Galician turbot aquaculture. Electricity use in hatching facilities arose as the main hot spot, ahead of aquafeed and diesel use in ongrowing plants.LCA proved to be a useful tool to provide chain transparency and accountability throughout these case studies.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 6, Issue 4 - Serial Number 4
October 2012
Pages 837-848

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