WP3: identifying & quantifying the main driving forces of ecosystem changes influencing the aquaculture sector and developing the appropriate environmental indicators

WP3: identifying & quantifying the main driving forces of ecosystem changes influencing the aquaculture sector and developing the appropriate environmental indicators

ECASA meeting Oban 8-9/12/2004

deliverables

Report of the scoping meeting on pressures and interactions and the methodology to be used

Results of analyses for interactions and associated costs to specific users

objectives

Ξ To identify and quantitatively assess the role and the relative importance of the different forcing factors: (aquaculture, fisheries, pollution, eutrophication, habitat destruction etc.) and environmental variations affecting the water quality in aquaculture zones and the major ecosystem services provided

Ξ To suggest the best methods for obtaining reference levels and associated indicators useful to monitor the impact of anthropogenic factors on aquaculture

Ξ To assess indicators of the interactions between aquaculture and other major uses of the coastal zone (fisheries, tourism & recreation, shipping etc)

Ξ To identify potential ways for measuring the additional cost caused by external environmental change.

Ξ To identify indicators of incompatibilities between uses and/or minimal distances required to avoid conflicts over environmental issues

methodology

The WP team will:

Ξ Review the existing published information on water quality of marine coastal areas.

Ξ Compile information from existing sources and models to address the relative importance of different sources of pressure in a series of typical coastal environments.

Ξ The areas of concern will be identified in a scoping workshop and subsequent effort will be targeted on issues of major importance.

Ξ Additional data will be gathered to document interactions using time-series analysis, as well as economic valuation techniques.

The intensity of pressures vary from place to place, as does the vulnerability of different ecosystems

Ξ Coral reefs - eutrophication, sediments, overfishing, destructive fishing, reef mining, the aquarium and curio trade, diseases.

Ξ Wetlands - reclamation and development, including landfills.Ξ Seagrass beds - siltation, coastal development, eutrophication, physical

disturbance.Ξ Coastal lagoons - reclamation, pollution.Ξ Mangroves - excessive exploitation, clearing for reclamation, development

and aquaculture.Ξ Shorelines - development, modification of habitats, erosion.Ξ Watersheds - deforestation, soil erosion, pollution, loss of habitats.Ξ Estuaries - reduced water flows, siltation, pollution.Ξ Small islands - changes in sea level, waste manage-ment, pollution.Ξ Continental shelves - pollution, fishing, dredging, navigation.Ξ Semi-enclosed seas - pollution, coastal development, fishing.

Source: GESAMP (2001) A Sea of Troubles. 40pp (http://gesamp.imo.org/no70/report.pdf)

HABS in West central AtlanticHABS in West central Atlantic

Large scale effects: nutrients in the Mediterranean

Estimates UnitsTotal Medit.

N P

Eastern Medit.

N P

A: Total nutrient quantity in the Mediterranean 103 tons 255 020 25 089 119 715 12 606

B: Atmos. Terr. Inputs -ATI (Bethoux et al. 1998) 103 tons y-1 5 351 539 3 222 304

C: Anthropogenic discharges (UNEP-Scenario 2) 103 tons y-1 2 686 297 946 101

D: Anthropogenic discharges (UNEP-Scenario 1) 103 tons y-1 677 83 198 24

E: Fish farming discharges - max 103 tons y-1 26 4 17 3

F: Fish farming discharges - min 103 tons y-1 12 0.6 8 0.4

Karakassis et al. Scientia Marina in press

tQ ( t 1Q D) a 1

a

calculating the max. quantity of fish farming nutrients remaining in the Mediterranean. Assuming a constant annual discharge of nutrients into the sea and a standard rate of water renewal

Qt: quantity of fish farming nutrients present in the Mediterranean at year t.

D: annual discharge of fish-farming released nutrients in the Mediterranean.

a: number of years required for a complete renewal of Mediterranean water (e.g 80 years)

Karakassis et al. Scientia Marina in press

tQ D1a 1

a 2a 1

a .. .t 1a 1

a ta 1

a

tQ ( t 1Q D) a 1

a

calculating the max. quantity of fish farming nutrients remaining in the Mediterranean.

Expanding the above equation the model takes the form:

When |(a-1)/a| <1, the limit of this equation for infinite time is:

Q D

a 1

a

1 a 1a

D a 1

Karakassis et al. Scientia Marina in press

Nutrients increase in the Mediterranean: long-term forecasting

30 years 400 years

N (%) P (%) N (%) P (%)

ATI (Bethoux et al. 1998) 52.45 53.70 165.75 169.70

Anthropogenic discharges (UNEP-Scenario 2) 26.34 29.56 83.22 93.42

Anthropogenic discharges (UNEP-Scenario 1) 6.64 8.28 20.97 26.17

Fish farming discharges - max 0.25 0.41 0.80 1.30

Fish farming discharges - min 0.12 0.06 0.38 0.18

Karakassis et al. Scientia Marina in press

Report with different sections

Ξ Covering 3 major areas:Ξ BalticΞ MediterraneanΞ Atlantic

Ξ Referring to 2 farm typesΞ Fish farmingΞ Mussel farming

Objectives-1

Ξ To identify and quantitatively assess the role and the relative importance of the different forcing factors: (aquaculture, fisheries, pollution, eutrophication, habitat destruction etc.) and environmental variations affecting the water quality in aquaculture zones and the major ecosystem services provided

Issues to be coveredΞ Sources of Nutrient dischargeΞ Sources of Organic materialΞ Other sources of pollutionΞ Habitat destruction (fisheries, harbours, other development)Ξ Alien species introducedΞ Changes in sedimentation regimeΞ Other relevant factors of regional importance

Objectives-2

Ξ To suggest the best methods for obtaining reference levels and associated indicators useful to monitor the impact of anthropogenic factors on aquaculture

Ξ Losses and risks for aquacultureΞ A. Known (ask stakeholders?)Ξ B. Likely (from your experience)

IssuesΞ HABsΞ Weather conditions and other physical factorsΞ Accidents (eg oil spils,)Ξ Poor water qualityΞ Parasites. Disease due to external factorsΞ Predation by wild liife (beards, seals, crocodiles etc)

Objectives -3

Ξ To identify indicators of incompatibilities between uses and/or minimal distances required to avoid conflicts over environmental issues

IssuesΞ Urban centersΞ Tourist development zonesΞ Industrial areasΞ Archaeological sitesΞ HarboursΞ Agricultural areasΞ Facilities for the Navy and other military usesΞ Other of regional importance

Ξ Provide regulations in forceΞ Comments on efficiency

Objectives- 4 & 5

Ξ To assess indicators of the interactions between aquaculture and other major uses of the coastal zone (fisheries, tourism & recreation, shipping etc)

Ξ This is a synthesis issue that will be done after collecting the national/regional reports

Ξ To identify potential ways for measuring the additional cost caused by external environmental change.

Ξ David will obtain all the reports and will do his best

sub-WPs Baltic E Atlantic Med

WP3.1 Different forcing factors

16, 5(?)

1, 3, 10, 12

4,7, 8, 14, 15(?)

WP3.2 Impacts on aquaculture

16, 5(?)

1, 6, 10, 12

4,7, 8, 12, 14, 15(?)

WP3.3 Incompatibilities & distances

1, 6, 10, 12

8, 12(?), 13, 15(?)

WP3.4 Synthesis (indicators)WP3.5 Additional cost

all2 David