Abstract:
Against the backdrop of China's "dual carbon" goals, conventional emission reduction approaches struggle to resolve the structural tension between economic growth and climate governance, highlighting an urgent need to develop novel carbon sink industries to offset residual emissions. To overcome the bottleneck hindering the synergistic realization of marine economic value and fishery ecological benefits, this study systematically reviews the theoretical framework of fishery carbon sinks and recent advances in understanding the carbon sink contributions of shellfish and macroalgae aquaculture. On this basis, we propose an innovative concept-"Blue Carbon Food (BCF)"-oriented toward carbon sink enhancement, specifically the promotion of sedimentary recalcitrant organic carbon burial. Guided by the "MRVT" principles (Measurable, Reportable, Verifiable, and Tradable), we further construct an evaluation framework for Blue Carbon Food that embeds carbon sink functions into the food consumption chain, thereby establishing a closed-loop pathway from ecological function to market value. In response to the major challenges confronting the development of Blue Carbon Food—namely, the lack of a broad consensus on carbon sink assessment, incomplete measurement standards, insufficient technologies for carbon sink enhancement, low market awareness, and a shortage of interdisciplinary professionals. There are five implementation pathways: deepening fundamental research on carbon sink mechanisms while promoting the inclusion of shellfish and macroalgae aquaculture into the international blue carbon system; establishing a dynamic, full-chain carbon sink measurement standard system; implementing a trinity technological strategy encompassing "breeding improvement-ecological optimization-measurement innovation"; developing a multi-stakeholder value transformation mechanism; and fostering the cultivation of interdisciplinary talent. Collectively, this study provides both theoretical underpinnings and practical guidance for expanding the frontiers of blue carbon development, realizing the value of marine ecological products, and facilitating the green and low-carbon transition of mariculture.