Global greenhouse gas emissions from aquaculture: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

High greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from aquaculture have contributed to global warming, arousing widespread concern worldwide. However, little is known about the historical evolution and future trends in research on GHG emissions from aquaculture. Here, we selected 553 papers on the GHG emissions from aquaculture from the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection database to explore the knowledge base, research hotspots, and future development trends in this field by visually analyzing the number of publications, research power (countries, institutions, and authors), journal distribution, keyword co-occurrence, and reference co-citation. The results showed that the research field of GHG emissions from aquaculture has entered a rapid development stage (exponential function) since 2009, with Chinese research institutions and scholars playing a key role in this field. Research hotspots have shifted from inland freshwater aquaculture and monoculture to offshore aquaculture and ecological integrated aquaculture, respectively. Notably, an increasing number of studies have focused on the restoration of damaged coastal wetlands caused by land use and the enhancement of the blue carbon sink function to reduce GHG emissions. The findings of this work can provide scientific guidance for regulating GHG emissions from aquaculture and promoting the green and sustainable development of aquaculture.