Aquaculture

This service contains various Aquaculture data. This includes Shellfish Production, Optimum Sites of Aquaculture potential (AQ1), Bivalve Classification area and Areas of Future Potential for Aquaculture. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Shellfish Production dataset shows shellfish farm species production data grouped by water body. Water bodies were taken from the water framework directive (WFD) coastal and transitional water bodies database, and joined with the data from CEFAS. Data contains information on species present and production values. This dataset was created by ABPmer under contract to DEFRA (Contract reference MB106). An Excel spreadsheet was supplied to ABPmer by CEFAS which contained a list of waterbodies with the species cultivated per waterbody, production per waterbody and the number of businesses operating for 2007. The production data was joined to a shapefile containing waterbodies based on name of waterbody, and all sites where no shellfish cultivation occurred were removed. The same procedure was repeated with the data of species present. A shapefile containing both number of species grown and tonnes produced per waterbody was created by merging the two datasets based on waterbody name. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Optimum Sites of Aquaculture Potential (AQ1) dataset shows areas identified through GIS modelling of suitable environmental conditions in East Coast Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan Areas favourable for macroalgae culture, Bivalve Bottom Culture, Finfish Cage, Lobster Restocking, Rope Cultured Bivalve Shellfish or Trestle/Bag Culture of Bivalves. This dataset has been derived from of a wider study assessing aquaculture potential in the South and East Marine Plan Areas for the Marine Management Organisation, project MMO1040. It was created using the Natural Resource model which forms part of the MMO project 1040 Spatial Trends in Aquaculture Potential in the South and East Coast Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan Areas. The Natural Resource model is made up of three existing environmental datasets: bathymetry derived from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), predicted seabed sediments and combined seabed energy, both from UKSeaMap 2010 (McBreen, et al., 2010). Suitable environmental conditions applied include - low-moderate seabed energy, any sediment type and 10-25 m water depth for current potential. The depth limitations in this instance are based on the industry current reliance on scuba-divers for maintenance and husbandry. It is anticipated that as the industry develops it will become less reliant on divers and be able to move into deeper waters. Note that although the Natural Resource model used the best environmental data available for use in the study but there are significant limitations and gaps. These are outlined below and are discussed in more detail in the final project report: The model does not contain any measure of water quality (e.g. dissolved oxygen, sediment loading or contaminants) and therefore is likely to overestimate the area deemed suitable for aquaculture developments, particularly fin fish cage culture, rope grown bivalve culture and macroalgae culture. The UKSeaMap 2010 predicted seabed sediment map (McBreen, et al., 2010) is modelled at a coarse scale which has led to inaccuracies in the identification of areas which have potential for aquaculture development. UKSeaMap 2010 is known to under-estimate rock habitats because of the type of sampling data (sediment grabs) used to underpin the model. The MMO is working with JNCC to develop these data to lead to improvements in future models. The UKSeaMap 2010 combined seabed energy map included in the model (McBreen, et al., 2010) provides an approximation of the environmental conditions that are likely to limit aquaculture development (e.g. strong currents and large waves) but more accurate results could be obtained by using more precise component datasets such as the maximum wave height and tidal current range, where these datasets are available and the precise limitations of the aquaculture activities of interest are known. The dataset shows potential based on current technologies as defined in Table 10 of the MMO1040 Aquaculture Potential Final Report which is published on the MMO website's evidence pages. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Bivalve Classification dataset classifies where the production of shellfish can be commercially harvested. All areas listed are designated for species that may be harvested as well as the classification of the shellfish waters. Classification of harvesting areas is required and implemented directly in England and Wales under European Regulation 854/2004. The co-ordination of the shellfish harvesting area classification monitoring programme in England and Wales is carried out by the Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Weymouth (Cefas) on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA). Cefas will make recommendations on classification according to an agreed protocol with the FSA making all final classification decisions and setting out the overall policy. Shellfish production areas are classified according to the extent to which shellfish sampled from the area are contaminated with E. coli. The Classification Zones/Production areas delineate areas where shellfish may be commercially harvested. Coordinates for the zone boundaries are calculated during a sanitary (ground) survey of the production area and where appropriate they are based on the OS Mastermap Mean High Water Line (coordinate accuracy <10m). The maps/zones are correct at time of publication but are updated when necessary depending on hygiene testing results. The current maps (jpgs) are available from the Cefas website ( https://www.cefas.co.uk/publications-data/food-safety/classification-and-microbiological-monitoring/england-and-wales-classification-and-monitoring/classification-zone-maps ) or a listing is available from the FSA website ( http://www.food.gov.uk/enforcement/monitoring/shellfish/shellharvestareas ) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The Current Aquaculture Potential layer highlights areas identified through GIS modelling of suitable environmental conditions in the South and East Marine Plan Areas favourable for macroalgae culture, Bivalve Bottom Culture, Finfish Cage, Lobster Restocking, Rope Cultured Bivalve Shellfish or Trestle/Bag Culture of Bivalves in the South and East Coast Marine Plan Areas. This dataset forms part of a wider study assessing different aquaculture potential in the South and East Marine Plan Areas for the Marine Management Organisation, project MMO1040. This dataset was created using the Natural Resource model which forms part of the MMO project 1040 Spatial Trends in Aquaculture Potential in the South and East Coast Inshore and Offshore Marine Plan Areas. The Natural Resource model is made up of three existing environmental datasets: bathymetry derived from the Department of Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) Digital Elevation Model (DEM), predicted seabed sediments and combined seabed energy, both from UKSeaMap 2010 (McBreen, et al., 2010). Suitable environmental conditions applied include - low-moderate seabed energy, any sediment type, 10-25 m water depth for current potential and 25-50 m water depth for near future potential). The depth limitations in this instance are based on the industry current reliance on scuba-divers for maintenance and husbandry. It is anticipated that as the industry develops it will become less reliant on divers and be able to move into deeper waters. Note that although the Natural Resource model used the best environmental data available for use in the study, there are significant limitations and gaps. These are outlined below and are discussed in more detail in the final project report: The Natural Resource model does not contain any measure of water quality (e.g. dissolved oxygen, sediment loading or contaminants) and therefore is likely to overestimate the area deemed suitable for aquaculture developments, particularly fin fish cage culture, rope grown bivalve culture and macroalgae culture. The UKSeaMap 2010 predicted seabed sediment map (McBreen, et al., 2010) is modelled at a coarse scale which has led to inaccuracies in the identification of areas which have potential for aquaculture development. UKSeaMap 2010 is known to under-estimate rock habitats because of the type of sampling data (sediment grabs) used to underpin the model. It is recommended that this component of the model is supplemented or replaced by higher resolution sediment maps where they are available for the region of interest. The UKSeaMap 2010 combined seabed energy map included in the model (McBreen, et al., 2010) provides an approximation of the environmental conditions that are likely to limit aquaculture development (e.g. strong currents and large waves) but more accurate results could be obtained by using more precise component datasets such as the maximum wave height and tidal current range, where these datasets are available and the precise limitations of the aquaculture activities of interest are known. The potential for development for the feature is "Current" (0-5 years), "Near Future" (5-10 years) or "Future" (10-20 years), the definitions of which are presented in Table 13 within the main report.