Recycling seashell by-products for sustainable water and sediment remediation in coastal aquaculture environments

초록

Marine aquaculture is a critical contributor to global food security but faces increasing environmental pressures from eutrophication, sediment anoxia, acidification, and contaminant accumulation. Conventional remediation approaches are often costly, energy-intensive, and unsustainable, highlighting the need for nature-based and circular alternatives. This review synthesizes studies published between 2000 and 2025 on the reuse of seashell by-products from mollusks and crustaceans, including oysters, mussels, clams, scallops, shrimp, and crabs, for water and sediment remediation in coastal aquaculture environments. Following PRISMA guidelines, relevant literature was systematically assessed from major scientific databases. Seashell by-products, primarily composed of calcium carbonate and characterized by porous and reactive surfaces, provide multiple remediation benefits through pH buffering, nutrient adsorption, heavy metal immobilization, and oxygen-releasing reactions. When applied in crushed, powdered, or calcined forms, these materials neutralize acidified sediments, reduce nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations, suppress hydrogen sulfide formation, and enhance sediment redox conditions by stimulating beneficial microbial activity. Laboratory and field studies further demonstrate improvements in benthic biodiversity, habitat stability, and carbon sequestration, contributing to healthier and more resilient aquaculture ecosystems. Beyond environmental performance, recycling seashell waste reduces disposal impacts, replaces synthetic treatment materials, lowers carbon emissions, and supports circular economy and low-cost aquaculture management strategies. Although challenges remain related to material heterogeneity, processing energy demands, and site-specific effectiveness, continued standardization, field validation, and policy support can enable broader adoption. Overall, seashell by-product reuse represents a sustainable and eco-innovative approach for improving water and sediment quality in coastal aquaculture systems.

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