THE OYSTER INDUSTRY IN EUROPE: CHALLENGES FOR PRODUCERS

OPENING AND INTRODUCTION

Panel I : OYSTER HEALTH ISSUES Panel II : FUTURE FOR THE OYSTER SECTOR

CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSURE

FUTURE FOR THE OYSTER SECTOR

1.Background information

2.Challenges for production

1. Oyster Resources

2. Spatial planning

3. Shellfish waters, environment, climate

4. Best Practices

3.Strategies for sustainability

1. Facts and Needs

2. Values and Benefits

THE OYSTER INDUSTRY IN EUROPE: CHALLENGES FOR PRODUCERS – 6/11/2014 – G. Viaud (CNC, AEPM)

Background information Oyster production has a long history in Europe. From fisheries to aquaculture activities

1820 – 1850 : Flat oyster fisheries Stocks and diseases

1910 : natural seed and spat collection 1940 : disease and cupped oysters (Portugal)

Cupped oyster instead of « Gravette » (1950)

Oyster aquaculture activities

1960 – 1980 : Pacific oyster introduction in Europe 1980 -1990 : Productivity (off bottom culture) 2000 -2005 : Production and commercialisation

Background information

Natural resources Sustainable activities

Modern industry

World Oyster production

0

500 000

1 000 000

1 500 000

2 000 000

2 500 000

3 000 000

3 500 000

4 000 000

4 500 000

-

20 000

40 000

60 000

80 000

100 000

120 000

140 000

160 000

180 000

Bivalve Mollusc Aquaculture in Europe

• Production

– 7 740 businesses - SMEs

– 1,3 109 euros/y

– No feed – no vets

• Markets

– Jobs direct/indirect

– 27 750 persons

– > 100 000 indirect jobs

• Consummers

– Tradition/culture (Oysters :41 g/person/week (Up

to 2kg/year)

– Diet needs (Public health)

– Recreationnal

Bivalve Mollusc Aquaculture in Europe

> 600 production areas > 35 000 hectares

Production EU > Consumption Positive economic balance

Background information

Challenges for production

1. Protect Oyster Resources

2. Reinforce Spatial Planning

3. Secure Shellfish waters, manage environment, adapt to climate changes

4. Implement Best Practices

Oyster Resources

• Natural ressources and oyster beds – Part of ecosystems and biodiversity – Empirical Knowledge / Innovations – Inputs/suply for farming – Activities management (fisheries, leasure activities) Protect resources (ex: O. edulis)

Mapping (stocks biology, health, genetics …) Management procedures

• Domestication and polyploïds (hatcheries and nurseries) – Part of the industry – Opportunities for stock management or against mortality syndromes – Sector organisation and common/general interests

Manage and contrôle activities

Approval Safe production and objective assesment of yield Notification procedures

Spatial planning

• Actual areas and new locations – Maintian natural sites – enhance productivity – Protect new potential locations

• Criteria for site selection et Protection Perimetres – Oyster requierments (ex faecal pollution, economic viability

…) – Implement buffer and protection areas

• Space and use conflicts – Promote projects for installation – Defense of oysters interest within coastal landscape (vs

tourism, industrial activities)

Shellfish waters, Environment, Climate

• Waters : – Safety perimeters (sanitary and health status), vulnerability

profil for production areas, actions plans and requierements on pollution sources.

– Good Shellfish health status (Norovirus)

• Environment – Conditions for production

– Role for ecosystems

– Adequation with environmental policies

• Climate – Events and pollutions – frequency of rainfall events

– Mid and long termes issues : acidification, sea level rise

Best Practices

• Ecosystem and biodiversity

• Observation and knowledge

• Carrying capacities

• Waste management

• Introduction and transfer of aquatic animals

Strategies for sustainability

• Challenges – An EU Specific framework for bivalve mollusc

• Resources protection and management • Aquaculture activities and methods (ex : animals health)

• Markets – Safe EU oyster production – EU – consumption opportunities – International trade

• Services and benefits from oyster farming – Bilan carbone, nitrogen, H2S … – Biodiversity and ecosystem – Research and Innovation

Mardi 18 novembre

9h30 – 12h30

THE OYSTER INDUSTRY IN EUROPE: CHALLENGES FOR PRODUCERS

OPENING AND INTRODUCTION

Panel I : OYSTER HEALTH ISSUESA Panel II : FUTURE FOR THE OYSTER SECTOR

CONCLUSIONS AND CLOSURE