Integrated mangrove-aquaculture coupling modes: ecological principles, practical modes and challenges

Mangroves are important intertidal wetland ecosystems distributed along tropical and subtropical coastlines, providing key ecological functions such as water purification and the nursery of fishery resources. However, mangrove restoration and plantation occupy coastal aquaculture pond lands, thereby triggering conflicts between ecological protection and industrial development. The mangrove-aquaculture ecological coupling mode (Hereinafter referred to as the planting-breeding coupling mode) provides a feasible pathway for coordinating mangrove ecological protection and coastal aquaculture development. This paper analyzes the ecological basis of the planting–breeding coupling mode, summarizes the research and practical progress of Integrated Mangrove Aquaculture (IMA), including Integrated Mangrove–Shrimp System (IMS) and Associated Mangrove–Aquaculture System (AMA), Ecological Mangrove Restoration (EMR), and China's planted mangrove-based coupling mode. We compared and analyzed the differences of the four modes in terms of mangrove restoration methods, aquaculture patterns, core objectives and application scales. We further put forward the key problems to be solved in the conceptual thinking, key technologies and policy management of China's planting-breeding coupling mode. This study aims to provide a reference for the research and application of the coupling mode, as well as for government departments to formulate policies for ecological protection and industrial development.