A new project led by the University of Southampton aims to improve the sustainability of mollusc farming in Asia.
The research will focus on bolstering food security and protecting livelihoods in the region, which is the world's largest producer of oysters, mussels, and clams.
The project will look at how adaptable different mollusc species are to the changing environment, as they face threats from global warming, climate shocks, disease, and commercial pressures.
Around 20 million tonnes of molluscs are produced every year, worth 29.8 billion US dollars.
In South East Asia, these shellfish are not only a major export but also a staple food source for local communities.
Professor Chris Hauton, from the University of Southampton, who is leading the project, said: "Climate change brings the prospect of higher sea temperatures, and changes to the distribution and timing of monsoonal systems and associated changes to the salinity of coastal waters.
"A small number of species make up the vast majority of mollusc farming across Asia, and there is growing concern as to the resilience of these culture systems in the face of such an uncertain future."
The project will also address the threat to local food security posed by farmers moving away from producing molluscs for local consumption in favour of more lucrative export markets.
A consortium called WAVES (Working towards Adaptive and Versatile Environmental Sustainability) has been awarded £3 million by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) to support the transition of mollusc aquaculture to more sustainable methods.
The consortium, led by the University of Southampton, includes several universities and will partner with Worldfish (Malaysia) and the Research Institute for Aquaculture No. 1 (Vietnam).
The team will study how tolerant different mollusc species are to environmental changes, changes in salinity, and disease.
This information will be fed into a model to forecast how mollusc farming in Asia might be impacted under different climate, commercial, and policy scenarios.
The findings of the project will be shared with mollusc farmers and policymakers in the region to show how they can transition to a more sustainable and equitable future.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereYou must verify your phone number before you can comment.
Please enter your phone number below, and a verification code will be sent to you by text message.
Please enter the six-digit verification code sent to you by SMS.
Your verification code has been sent a second time to the mobile phone number you provided.
Your verification code has been sent a third time to the mobile phone number you provided.
You have requested your verification code too many times. Please try again later.
Didn’t receive a code? Send it againThe code you entered has not been recognised.
Please try again
You have failed to enter a correct code after three attempts.
Please try again later.
Your phone number has been verified.
Your phone number has been stored with your account details. We will never use it for anything other than verifying that you are the legitimate owner of this account.