Some forms of aquaculture can actively restore degraded marine and freshwater habitats, creating opportunities where seafood production and ecosystem welfare enhance rather than undermine each other.
Restorative aquaculture represents a model where seafood production actively improves the welfare of wild animal populations by enhancing habitat quality and ecosystem function. Restored oyster reefs support diverse communities of invertebrates, fish, and birds that benefit from the structural complexity and improved water quality. Seaweed farms and mussel lines create refuge from predators and current for many small species, potentially improving the welfare of wild populations by reducing predation pressure and starvation. This ecological welfare dimension — the collective welfare improvement for diverse wild populations — represents a substantial potential benefit that is rarely factored into evaluations of aquaculture environmental impact. Scaling restorative aquaculture could simultaneously produce food and improve the lives of millions of wild marine animals.