Epsilon Archive for Student Projects

Abstract

The challenge of ensuring aquatic food security is a prime example of a wicked problem in that it involves the environmental health of one of the planet’s largest ecosystems, concerns many industries and stakeholders, affects the whole of society and has no clear solution. This kind of broad problem fits well into an agroecological approach which takes a wide view of the entire ecosystem and strives to achieve social and environmental sustainability alongside economic. This independent project focused on the contributions artificial reefs can make towards supporting aquatic food security and how this security connects to biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Artificial reefs are an interesting topic as they are at the juxtaposition between the manmade and natural worlds. Conservation efforts are crucial in these current times to combat the damage to the environment and our food systems caused by anthropogenic activities. Usually, focus is primarily on terrestrial systems and land based agriculture but it is not possible to establish a truly sustainable food system without factoring in the health and contribution to nutrition provided by the aquatic ecosystems which cover the bulk of this planet.

During this independent project, my knowledge of marine species increased exponentially and it was engaging to try and tackle the different challenges that arose throughout the project’s duration. This project required adaptability to changing weather conditions, ingenuity of equipment use and would not have been possible without the help and support of both supervisors, particularly during the fieldwork week. However, the results of this project only provide a snapshot in time of the artificial reefs. As such, it would be interesting to follow them across more years to track what benefits they may bring to both the local citizens of Helsingborg and the wider marine ecosystem.

It is my hope that this project can help demonstrate the link between small scale conservation efforts, global food security and other ecosystem services. I also hope to encourage consideration of aquatic food systems alongside the terrestrial as this is crucial for preserving environmental health and ensuring a nutritionally secure future for society.