Positive Influence of Bivalve Aquaculture on Epibenthic Macrofauna: An Example of Restorative Aquaculture in Coastal Ecosystems

Human activities have driven habitat degradation and biodiversity loss in marine ecosystems, highlighting the need for strategies that reconcile food production with ecosystem restoration. Restorative aquaculture has emerged as a potential tool to enhance habitat complexity, nutrient cycling, and biodiversity. Here, we combined a systematic literature review with an experimental study in NW Spain to evaluate the ecological effects of mussel aquaculture on macroinvertebrates. The review highlighted a global imbalance between mussel production and research on its ecological benefits, with most studies emphasizing environmental impacts rather than positive ecosystem effects. Mussel farms enhance habitat complexity and provide trophic subsidies through mussel fall-off, supporting higher abundances of crustaceans and echinoderms, including commercial species such as lobsters. Ecological effects vary with spatial scale, production type (inshore vs. offshore), substrate characteristics, and farm structure. The review highlights both ecological benefits and potential risks, including ecological traps. Research gaps include the need for quantitative assessments and long-term monitoring. The experimental study quantified O. nigra abundance revealed higher densities near mussel rafts. Mussel farms act as both trophic and structural facilitators, demonstrating how low trophic aquaculture can synergistically support marine biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Properly managed, mussel farming could transition from a food production activity to a regenerative ecological tool.