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Aquaculture Projects & Initiatives – An Update
Lee Cocker - Aquaculture Manager ACIG, Friends House, London. 14th April, 2016
Overview
• Commissioned Reports • Several and Regulating Orders • Economic Assessment
• Strategic Investment Fund Projects • SIF - SW England • SIF - South Wales
• Seafish Domestic Aquaculture Advisory Committee
• RASS Aquaculture Profile Development • Online Resources
• Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox for England
Commissioned Reports
1. Aquaculture Economic Report • Scotland - “An Assessment of the Benefits to Scotland of
Aquaculture” 2014 http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/Publications/publicationslatest/farmedfish/AqBenefits
• Government and DAs now require deeper understanding of the contribution that the main aquaculture sub-sectors make to home nation economies and at more localised scales
• “Analysis of the Economic Contribution and Value of the Major Aquaculture Sub-Sectors and Most Important Farmed Aquatic Species in England, Northern Ireland and Wales”
• Hambrey Consulting commissioned • DA representatives forming Steering Group
Aquaculture Economic Report continued… • Literature Review • Database interrogation inc. requested Cefas data
and public access information • Typology of aquaculture enterprises • Mapping - in conjunction with PML • Field and site visits • Semi-structured interviews; producers to retailers • On-line Questionnaire/Survey
• Call for participation in ACIG newsletters • Sent out to over 150 recipients
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/seafishaquaculture1
Questionnaire responses “If aquaculture
changes and adapts then it has a future”
“The situation in 10-20 years depends on whether the administrations in England /Wales/NI look at what has occurred in Scotland and try to mirror the positive approaches to the development of the
sector seen there”
“In 20 years’ time it is vital that we are producing
more food within the UK and aquaculture is a
perfect way to do this”
“It is my single biggest concern, that Government will remain in its detached, almost disinterested, state, doing as little as possible
to not just develop but also to defend the legitimacy of aquaculture as a viable and highly sustainable economic undertaking”
“In 10-20 years aquaculture will be in the same place that it is now if the government continue to allow
environmentalists to hijack any expansion of the industry. They
never seem to look at the bigger picture of food security, jobs etc.”
“It can’t work within the current legislation, too
many government bodies obstructing aquaculture
development”
“Young people need to be encouraged to join. Grants to
get started would help”
Key Outcomes and Deliverables
• Utilise available metrics and self-generated data to understand the current situation / economic value
• Quantified descriptions of routes to market for products for key species
• Identify business issues, barriers to growth, and opportunities
• Identify interventions / how they would work, to encourage growth of aquaculture sectors in England, NI and Wales
Report will define and demonstrate quantitatively the economic performance of the sector and how the situation could be improved and capacity increased
• Final document expected by QI
2. SRO Report • Several, Regulating and Hybrid Order powers derive from Sea
Fisheries Act (Shellfish) 1967
• Legislative legacy; inhabit a ‘grey area’ within the legislative landscape in regards to ‘enhanced fisheries’, and /or ‘capture-based aquaculture’ and ‘aquaculture’ per se
• SROs have enabled and enhanced UK shellfish production, what will be their future role in UK shellfish production?
• “UK Shellfish Production: The Contribution and Value of Several and Regulation (and Hybrid) Orders in Relation to the Sectors Past Development and Future Growth”
• Working Sea consultancy commissioned
SRO Report continued…
Case study quotes “As scallops get older they grow more slowly,
having the Several Order in place has really enabled them to reach this size and associated fecundity
level. However, it could also leave us with a lot of investment in stock to which we would have no legal right should the Order not be renewed ”
“The security offered by the 20 year Several Order has really helped the
lease holders invest in their operations and secure outside investment - ensuring its longer term success”
“The success of the fishery is directly related to the security of tenure
associated with the Order. It has meant I’ve been able to work the beds
sustainably for the past 50 years”
Sconser Scallops Loch Sligachan, Scallops Several Fishery (Scotland) Order
Southern IFCA Poole Harbour Several Order 2015
River Teign Shellfish Ltd The River Teign Mussels Fishery (Variation) (Oysters) Order 1996 & The River Teign Mussels Fishery Order 1966
Key Outcomes and Deliverables
• Demonstrate the value of SROs to shellfish producers via case studies
• Highlight shortcomings/failings of the current SRO system • Explore the advantages/disadvantages of SROs and IFCA
bylaws • Put forward recommendations for the future of SROs • Assist Defra in plans to update SRO guidance and
procedures
• Final document expected by QI
SIF Projects
• SIF established at the request of our Sector Panels and Board - flexible, ‘light touch’ means of commissioning R&D; helping to deliver 2015/2018 Corporate Plan
• Opened July 2015 - call for proposals in topic areas • Improving supply-chain efficiency and reducing waste • Improving the uptake of currently under-utilised species • Innovative solutions for maintaining the integrity of seafood products
• Many applications, inc. aquaculture • Two applications with specific/major aquaculture focus
were successful
http://www.seafish.org/industry-support/funding-and-awards/funding/strategic-investment-fund
Strategic Investment Fund (SIF)
• Brixham Laboratory: Blue Environmental Hub • Project lead Sustainable Leadership Ltd. on behalf of Plymouth
University
• Centre would have three areas of strategic focus • Sustainable aquaculture R&D including scalable solutions • Specialist research and problem solving services for fisheries
stakeholders, including industry • Ecosystem approach to management
1. SIF – SW England
“The Feasibility of an Aquaculture and Fisheries Research and Development Centre at Brixham Laboratory”
• Stakeholder engagement underway - inc. sector players in production, processing and retail • 2 day workshop planned
• Funding options identified and targeted • Strategic options identified and assessed and
feasibility articulated • Top-level strategic business plan
Key Outcomes and Deliverables
• Consortium of aquaculture businesses with TLSB • Partners inc. Mumbles Oyster Company, Aquafish Solutions,
Seasalter Shellfish
• Project aims to inform and enable the development of new aquaculture businesses in both • TLSB (world’s first, man-made, energy generating lagoon) • Other similar sheltered water sites inc. disused areas of
commercial ports and natural embayments
2. SIF - South Wales
“Closing the Circle - A Blueprint for Sustainable Aquaculture in Tidal Lagoons from Hatchery to Plate”
• Scoping out marine species/methodologies that may be suitable in TLSB or similarly sheltered locations • Understanding of TLSB likely physical/biological conditions • Developing a short list of spp. most likely and plans for
their deployment; stress testing the economic models for each species-system plan to ensure long-term economic viability
• Reviewing the necessary shore-side facilities • Exploring ‘Aquaculture Park’ concept
Key Outcomes and Deliverables
• Design/costing multi-species shellfish hatchery and spatting ponds • Key design concepts developing for a C21st hatchery
using best available methods and technologies • Exploring modular concept/ideas • Exploring transferable design for equivalent sites
Key Outcomes and Deliverables cont.’…
Domestic Aquaculture Advisory Committee (SDAAC)
• EAWG derived from 2012 talks to develop an English Aquaculture Strategy
• Inclusive forum facilitated by Seafish - from producers to governmental bodies
• 2015/16 two meetings held - discuss strategic issued related to English aquaculture and its development
English Aquaculture Working Group (EAWG)
Moving forward…the SDAAC
• Many issues pertinent to England are not 'standalone' but cross-border and frequently apply UK-wide
• EAWG has decided to reform as the SDAA – wider membership; reps from all 4 nations
• Provide stakeholders with a mechanism for directing the work areas/resource allocation of Domestic Aquaculture Strategy Programme
• All members are invited to participate in discussions - resource decisions will be limited to levy-payers
• Potential members contacted; 1st meeting 6th May
RASS Aquaculture Profiles
• January 2016: 310 wild profiles online
• 4,000+ users
• RASS Aquaculture Profiles: • 15+ most important
farmed groups/ species to UK market
• Working on 1st three profiles with Cefas
• RASS Steering Group March 2016
Farmed Group/Species Profile
• Overview • Identify key environmental key risk/s in
production/mitigation methods that buyers need to be aware of • Give more focused and detailed information • NO risk score methodology and NO risk score given
• Collation of schemes that may address risk/s • Centralised information - brief description / provide a link • Indicate what risk/s a scheme/s addresses • Buyer interrogation of scheme in terms of mitigating their own
acceptable level of risk
Visualisation of Atlantic salmon page
CERTIFICATION - Drop Box example
˄ Certification is a voluntary process that allows a supplier to demonstrate responsible sourcing practices by: minimising impact on the environment; making the best use of locally available resources; complying with national legislation and ensuring the best use of feed and therapeutic products.
Options for Buyers Following Key Risk/s and Mitigation Identification…
RASS Aquaculture Web Tool
• Simple, user-friendly and familiar format • Provides background information • Highlights key risks buyers need to know • Does not say “best choice” or “avoid” • Collates schemes relevant to that group/species
in a single, accessible place • Can be updated easily e.g. highlight GSSI
benchmarked certification • Scope to develop further
Online Resources – Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox
Web Site Resources Seafish Online Information
• Updating web pages - work in progress
• Aquaculture Funding Guides (http://www.seafish.org/industry-support/aquaculture/aquaculture-funding-guides)
• Responsible Sourcing Guides (http://www.seafish.org/industry-support/aquaculture/aquaculture-responsible-sourcing-guides)
RSGs will be replaced with RASS Aquaculture Profiles
Aquaculture Regulations in England
• Concerns with the regulatory framework underpinning aquaculture in England
• Phase 1- Cefas has bought together guidance on regulatory requirements for new aquaculture businesses in England covering both existing and emerging sectors
• Information now available on Seafish website
“Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox for England”
The Toolbox… • 13 individual aquaculture
sector PDFs
• Summary information, links and contacts on the type of licences, authorisations and permissions required to set up and run a specific type of aquaculture business
http://www.seafish.org/industry-support/aquaculture/aquaculture-regulatory-toolbox-for-england https://www.gov.uk/guidance/fish-shellfish-or-crustacean-farm-authorisation
Cefas Aquaculture Sector PDFs
Aquaculture Regulatory Toolbox: Phase 2
• Regulators guidance (2016 – 2017) – Build on this guidance site (Phase 1) – Contextualise developments for regulators – Improve consistency of the way aquaculture is treated – Guidance for and by regulators The following information and clarification should be made available on the Seafish webpage within the regulatory toolbox section to achieve above aims, help developers and develop transparency and trust.
Suggested areas
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1. The processes and flowlines for establishing classification and bio-toxin status of new offshore shellfish growing areas (FSA/Cefas).
2. The processes and requirements for when a Habitats Risk Assessment (HRA) is required or when a Likely Significant Effect (LSE) is applied and the roles and responsibilities for doing this. To include how the decision makers balance impacts against benefits (NE, IFCA, Defra, Cefas).
3. Clarification of the policy to be applied when applications are received for farming of pacific oysters (Defra). 34
4. The approach to be taken by regulators when an application is received to farm a non-native species. (Cefas).
5. Clarification and guidance to be made available on
the shellfish exemption from marine licensing and subsequent variations (MMO)
6. Explanation of how mapped aquaculture areas on marine plans fit with the needs to go through the normal regulatory processes and how designation of new MPAS will affect this. (MMO)
35
Only one comment received on these suggestions so far. Next Steps
1. Get Defra approval on the six subject areas
2. Flesh these out and agree with regulators 3. Set deadlines for completion. 4. Aim to have in place by End March 2017
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The first year…
Creating building blocks and laying foundations
Strengthen and enhance the current UK
aquaculture industry, building upon what is in place, in order to boost confidence and
expand our existing production
