Valuing Sustainability Impacts and Food Security Effects of Local Mariculture

Abstract

Global events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and regional events like the wars in Ukraine and in Gaza have affected and still affect global supply chains, including those for food. This has increased awareness of the importance of local food production, including aquaculture and mariculture. In this study, we point out and calculate the economic values of environmental sustainability and food security inherent in local production versus import alternatives. We present a case study involving the environmental effects and food security of supplying sea fish to the Israeli market from local production versus imports. The results show that increasing the consumption of seabream in Israel from imports, rather than local production, causes substantial external costs by increasing environmental damage due to increased transport and increasing potential food insecurity. Decision-makers should take these costs into account when deciding on a policy to support local aquaculture.