SOME ASPECTS OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF

13,9
MB AQUACULTURE IN SENSITIVE AREAS

305
stron

3624
ID Poseidon Aquatic Resource Management Ltd

2006
rok

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1 STUDY BACKGROUND, OBJECTIVES AND APPROAC 1

1.1 AQUACULTURE AND TE ENVIRONMENT IN TE EUROPEAN UNION. 1

1.2 SPECIFIC BACKGROUND OF TE STUDY 4

1.3 OBJECTIVE. 5

1.4 APPROAC. 5

1.5 LAYOUT OF TE REPORT . 7

2 OVERVIEW OF COASTAL AQUACULTURE IN EUROPE 8

2.1 COASTAL AQUACULTURE PRODUCTION SYSTEMS AND SITING NEEDS . 10

2.2 REGIONAL PRODUCTION PATTERNS 17

3 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS IN EUROPE. 29

3.1 DEFINING ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE AREAS. 29

3.2 ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE SITES COVERED BY TIS PROJECT . 30

3.3 STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS FOR NATURE CONSERVATION 35

3.4 ABITATS AND SPECIES OF CONSERVATION IMPORTANCE . 38

3.5 INITIAL SCREENING OF ABITATS AND SPECIES . 39

4 SPATIAL ASSESSMENT OF INTERACTIONS BETWEEN AQUACULTURE AND

ENVIRONMENTALLY-SENSITIVE AREAS 44

4.1 PURPOSE AND METODOLOGY 44

4.2 DATA 44

4.3 SPATIAL ASSESSMENT .45

4.4 RECOMMENDATIONS 46

5 DETERMINATION OF PRINCIPAL PRESSURES ON SENSITIVE COASTAL ENVIRONMENTS

FROM AQUACULTURE. 47

5.1 SEDIMENTATION51

5.2 CANGE IN BIO-GEOCEMISTRY . 56

5.3 CANGE IN COASTAL PROCESSES 74

5.4 INFRASTRUCTURE IMPACTS75

5.5 VISUAL LAND AND SEASCAPE MODIFICATION. 76

5.6 DISTURBANCE.78

5.7 PREDATOR CONTROL .80

5.8 CEMICAL INPUTS.82

5.9 PATOGEN TRANSMISSION .86

5.10 INTER-BREEDING WIT WILD ORGANISMS 90

5.11 INTRODUCTION OF ALIEN SPECIES 96

5.12 INDIRECT ECOSYSTEM PRESSURES .105

Some Aspects of Environmental Impact of Aquaculture in Sensitive Areas FIS/2004/15

6 ABITAT AND SPECIES DESCRIPTION, ECOSYSTEM IMPORTANCE AND SENSITIVITY. 110

6.1 REEFS .110

6.2 SEAGRASS BEDS ON SUBLITTORAL SEDIMENTS115

6.3 SANDBANKS, MUDFLATS AND SANDFLATS118

6.4 MAERL BEDS122

6.5 KELP AND SEAWEED COMMUNITIES .123

6.6 SALTMARS COMMUNITIES125

6.7 SAND DUNE COMMUNITIES 127

6.8 SINGLE COMMUNITIES.128

6.9 CETACEANS.129

6.10 PINNIPEDS.131

6.11 OTTERS 133

6.12 FIS 134

6.13 BIRDS138

7 RISK IDENTIFICATION AND ECOSYSTEM VULNERABILITY 141

7.1 LINKING SYSTEM-SPECIFIC PRESSURES AND VULNERABLE ECOSYSTEMS.141

7.2 KEY PRODUCTION AND ENVIRONMENTAL VARIABLES DETERMINING ECOLOGICAL

VULNERABILITY.157

7.3 TRESOLDS FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT164

7.4 PLANNING AND MITIGATION APPROACES.168

8 CASE STUDIES OF EUROPEAN AQUACULTURE IN SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS 184

8.1 CAGE SALMON FARMING IN LOC CRERAN, SCOTLAND .184

8.2 RAFT MUSSEL CULTURE IN RÍA DE AROUSA, SPAIN 190

8.3 EXTENSIVE CLAM AQUACULTURE IN TE GORO LAGOON, ITALY 198

8.4 SEA BASS AND SEA BREAM FARMING IN TE SARONIKOS GULF, GREECE .206

9 OUTLINE CLASSIFICATION OF AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS IN ENVIRONMENTALLY

SENSITIVE AREAS. 210

9.1 TRADITIONAL CLASSIFICATION OF AQUACULTURE.210

9.2 OBJECTIVES OF ‘ECOLOGICAL’ CLASSIFICATION .211

9.3 PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION OF AQUACULTURE IN SENSITIVE AREAS212

9.4 USE OF AN ECOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION216

10 FUTURE MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK 217

10.1 REVIEW OF MANAGEMENT PLANNING OPTIONS218

10.2 SAC MANAGEMENT PLANNING MEASURES .223

10.3 CODES OF PRACTICE FOR AQUACULTURE IN SENSITIVE ENVIRONMENTS228

10.4 RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FUTURE ACTION .232

Appendices

APPENDIX A: TERMS OF REFERENCE

APPENDIX B: REFERENCES

APPENDIX C: FINFIS PRODUCTION IN TE EU BY COUNTRY

APPENDIX D: NATURA 2000 AREAS IN TE EU

APPENDIX E: SPATIAL REPRESENTATION OF FINFIS CULTURE IN TE EU

APPENDIX F: SPATIAL REPRESENTATION OF SELLFIS CULTURE IN TE EU