Meaningful aggregation of seafood LCA results- a basis for global syntheses, optimization, policy and certification

Food production and consumption is responsible for a significant part of global environmental and health problems. Seafood is promising from both perspectives implying it should play a larger role in future diets. Food Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) results are increasingly used to compare environmental impacts of food groups and diets, however, approaches used are flawed in terms of: 1) the way products are grouped, 2) methodological differences between underlying studies and 3) representativeness of production. Values and ranges reported are therefore not based on robust science. It can be described as building a wall with bricks of different shapes.We will perform robust meta-analysis of global seafood production. The bricks will be adjusted to fit, resulting in a stronger wall. Grouping will be based on knowledge about the production systems, methodological discrepancies will be overcome using LCA input data and a common methodological approach. The same approach will be used in case studies to fill significant data gaps emerging in the meta-analysis. The outcome will be weighted according to each systems contribution to global production. Results can be used as a solid basis for global syntheses, systematic comparisons and for future optimization efforts through policy or certification. It is critical that increased seafood production and comparison within and between product groups is based on robust data and methods and scientific principles.