This article describes various techniques used to assess the energy performance of a selection of aquaculture systems, representing intensities and methodologies which dominate global production. The paper has useful figures and data on global aquaculture production over time and schematic energy flow model for various types of seafood production. Energy performance of extensive and intensive aquaculture systems are analysed and the biophysical efficiency and sustainability of aquaculture systems is discussed.

This study, 'Assessing Alternative Aquaculture Technologies: Life Cycle Assessment of Salmonid Culture Systems in Canada', employed life cycle assessment (LCA) to quantify and compare the potential environmental impacts of culturing salmonids in a conventional marine net-pen system with those of three reportedly environmentally-friendly alternatives; a marine floating bag system; a land-based saltwater flow through system; and a land-based freshwater recirculating system.

This is a methodological paper, 'Impact categories for Life Cycle Assessment research of seafood production: Review and Prospectus', looking at the technicalities of LCA in wild caught fisheries and aquaculture. It finds that the LCA analyses of fisheries and aquaculture call attention to an important range of environmental interactions that are usually not considered in discussions of sustainability in the seafood sector. These include energy use, biotic resource use, and the toxicity of anti-fouling paints.

The focus of this methodological paper, Co-Product Allocation in Life Cycle Assessments of Seafood Production Systems: Review of Problems and Strategies, is the specific allocation problems faced in studying seafood production systems and how they have been addressed to date.

The paper, "Life Cycle Considerations for Improving Sustainability Assessments in Seafood Awareness Campaigns", reflects on the use of Life Cycle Assessments to better understand and manage global salmon production systems. It argues that LCA research of fisheries and aquaculture provides valuable insights into the biophysical dimensions of environmental performance in alternative seafood production and consumption systems, and should be used to inform a more holistic approach to labelling, certifying, and educating for sustainability in seafood production.

The Global Salmon LCA was a joint initiative of Dalhousie University, Ecotrust and SIK – The Swedish Institute for Food and Biotechnology - which formally ran from 2005-2008 but publications reporting results continue to emerge.

A paper, by Hospido and Tyedmers, studies the environmental impact of the Spanish tuna fishing industry. Taking a life cycle approach it looks at the industry’s affect on a range of environmental indicators, including its GWP, up to the point at which the fish are landed at Galicia.

Although transport is clearly a major issue in the life cycle of some fish products, this paper finds that the actual fishing stage of the life cycle is by far and away the most significant from a GHG emissions perspective.