Guidance Document on Aquaculture and Natura 2000

THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group

GUIDANCE DOCUMENT ON AQUACULTURE AND NATURA 2000

ANNEX 5

SELECTED CASE STUDIES [TO BE REVISED / COMPLETED]

Index

AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES IN NATURA 2000 SITES...... 2

Aquaculture activities in Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park Andalusia, Spain...... 2 Aranyponty (‘Golden Carp’) Fishponds. Hungary...... 3 Veta la Palma, Doñana (Spain)...... 5

STRATEGIC PLANING OF AQUACULTURE...... 7

Marine aquaculture planning in Scotland...... 7 NATURA-areas in the Finnish aquaculture site selection plan...... 9

APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT OF AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES...... 13

Scientific Programme for Conservation Objective Setting and Appropriate Assessment in Ireland...... 13 Appropriate Assessments & Shellfisheries: Adaptive Management Protocol...... 16

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AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES IN NATURA 2000 SITES

Aquaculture activities in Bahía de Cádiz Natural Park Andalusia, Spain

SCI/SPA: Bahía de Cádiz (ES0000140), SCI Fondos Marinos de Bahía de Cádiz (ES6120009).

Description of aquaculture activities in the Natura 2000 site: Aquaculture is the main activity carried out within this natural area. Marine farming in the area is based on the use of ancient salt marshes for fattening fish. Besides these, there are also shellfish growing parks located in the intertidal zone.

In the Bay of Cadiz, the extensive aquaculture, both traditional and improved, is the main farming system, reaching almost 60% (2013 ha) of the total authorized area, while intensive and semi-intensive production systems, only represent about 20% of the area. Inactive holdings account for almost 20% (580 ha) of the authorized area. 90 authorized mariculture farms are located within the Natural Park Bay of Cadiz. Main cultivated species are the Thicklip grey mulle (Chelon labrosus) and the Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).

Besides fish farms shellfish farms exist within the Bay of Cadiz, on the tidal zones of the reserve. The main cultivated species are the Japanese carpet shell (Ruditapes philippinarum), Portuguese oyster (Crasostrea angulata), European flat oyster, and occasionally the clam (Ruditapes decussata). There are currently 10 authorized shellfish farms in the Bay of Cadiz, 6 of which are active representing just over 50% (17 ha) of the authorized area.

How aquaculture activities are made compatible with the site conservation: The aquaculture activities are considered in the Management Plan of this natural area, as they represent the main economic activity in the area. One of the objectives of the management plan is: “to guarantee the development of the saltpans and aquaculture activities and their compatibility with the conservation of the natural resources”.

The Management Plan set a number of criteria for the authorisation of aquaculture activities in the site and the prescriptions, conditions and requisites that aquaculture activities must respect, as well as the monitoring and surveillance activities that the competent authorities and the aquaculture operator must undertake. It also establishes the need to carry out studies to determine the carrying capacity for the development of aquaculture activities.

Source: PORN y PRUG del Parque Natural Bahía de Cádiz. Anexo I - Plan de Ordenación de los Recursos Naturales del Parque Natural Bahía de Cádiz. http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/medioambiente/site/web/menuitem.a5664a214f73c3df81d 8899661525ea0/? vgnextoid=f40ef7b0cc20a010VgnVCM1000000624e50aRCRD&vgnextchannel=1183f4b6 aab28010VgnVCM1000000624e50aRCRD&lr=lang_es

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Aranyponty (‘Golden Carp’) Fishponds. Hungary1

SCI/SPA: This fish farm is located in Fejér County, Hungary, in a Natura 2000 (SPA Sárvíz Völgye HUDI10005) and Ramsar site. The principal business is the supply of live fish for stocking sport-fishing lakes.

Description of aquaculture activities in the Natura 2000 site: Aranyponty Zrt. (Golden Carp Close Company) was established in 1989, as the first Hungarian private fishery enterprise. The enterprise operates in Natura 2000 areas (HUDI10005) and is also included in the “Rétszilasi Tavak” natural reserve and the Sárvíz Völgye Specific Bird Protection Area. In Aranyponty Zrt. activities such as breeding of indigenous, traditional or even rare species, maintenance and development of habitats are supplemented with activities such as breeding of non-indigenous species, pond management in order to keep up continuous fish supply.

How aquaculture activities are made compatible with the site conservation: The natural values of the area include rare bird species, and as most of these species feed upon fish, the ponds are of key importance in their feeding. This also leads to the need to take into account conservation considerations and considerations of economically rational operation, especially in terms of fish damages caused by cormorants (cormorant is among the species of Natura 2000 and conservation concern; especially the migrating cormorant population makes significant damages to the fish population); the problem is in part handled by the development of eco-tourism and the establishment of semi-extensive hutches (the latter is among the development plans of the enterprise).

The personal commitment of the owner to conservation plays a role in the organisation of business activities, e.g. the enterprise performs habitat development (further developments are planned) and develops eco-tourism. Regarding the legal provision of conservation the owner expressed his view that regulations concentrate on the prohibition of certain activities which renders the operation of enterprises more difficult.

The development of the company follows a “step by step” method, based on smaller development projects; as soon as a development begins to safely operate, they move on to the next. Their main development plans are as follows:

- Development of eco-tourism in the area (development of the quantity of accommodation, eco-friendly means of transport, catering facilities, organisation of programmes), - Development of programme facilities: a green playground, summer camp site, - Fishery development (“mainstream” methods), - Technological developments to increase productivity and decrease resource demand, thus providing a better environmental management (see below), - Development of bio-diversity through habitat development (see below).

Aranyponty Zrt has two potential projects, for both of them applications have already been submitted for non-refundable sources. The first project refers to technological developments including the introduction of a new species (with higher productivity but lower risk of becoming invasive and economically disastrous species – as bighead carps did), establishment of hutches (“lake within a lake” – combining intensive and extensive technologies) to decrease damages by birds, and research on diverse fish population

1 Case study provided by BirdLife, based on an interview carried out with the owner of the fish farm, Ferenc Lévai, in 18 September 2008, and on further information on the enterprise from the company’s Internet site. 3 THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group structure, which increases productivity while decreases resource demand, thus provides a better environmental management.

The other project aims directly the development of bio-diversity through habitat development (redevelopment of a swamp, a former spring-bed, with buffalo grazing), plantation of wild fruits, redevelopment of degraded plough lands, establishment of meadows for indigenous species such as Hungarian grey cattle, buffalo, “racka” sheep.

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Veta la Palma, Doñana (Spain)

SCI/SPA: Doñana. The Estate stretches across 28,000 acres located in the Doñana Nature Reserve and harbors the biodiversity-rich marshlands of the lower Guadalquivir River’s floodplain, an important habitat for wintering and breeding bird populations, including some rare and endangered species. It is also a designated Natura 2000 area, and a RAMSAR wetland site of international importance. The area once contained some 200,000 ha of wetlands, but in the course of the 20th century many wetlands were lost to farming (rice and extensive livestock grazing).

Description of aquaculture activities in the Natura 2000 site: The company PIMSA purchased a property in the Doñana Nature Reserve in 1982, fully aware that activities had to be developed in compliance with the Reserve’s conservation objectives. The company owners set out to develop an extensive close-to-nature aquaculture venture in a former wetland area. The intent was to create economic value from land use while at the same time improving the ecology of the area. PIMSA established a polyculture fish farming operation in the early 1990s, permitted within the terms of the Reserve’s management plan. They reflooded wetlands that had been lost to natural siltation and engineered drainage, using a pump system and the original drainage channels to bring in water from the estuary. The fish farm today covers some 8,000 acres and uses extensive and semi-extensive methods to breed a large variety of fish in 45 interconnected ponds of 173 acres each, which are joined to the local river system through a web of irrigation and drainage channels.

The annual fish production is about 1500 tons, marketed primarily to gourmet food shops, high quality food distributors, and haute cuisine chefs in Mediterranean countries (Italy, France, Spain and Portugal), Germany, and the United States. The business is economically successful and provides income to about 100 farm workers from the small town Isla Mayor (5800 inhabitants) and surrounding villages.

How aquaculture activities are made compatible with the site conservation: Birds are allowed to stay on the fish ponds, leading to a reduction in total production of about 20 percent, a loss the company is willing to sustain to support the area’s biodiversity. Before the aquaculture operation was established, only about 50 bird species were recorded in the area (Abend 2009). The company improved the ponds’ landscape value by creating more than 100 islands for nesting waterfowl and re-vegetating 93 miles of banks. They also created two bird sanctuaries on 1250 acres in the northern sector of the estate. Now up to 600,000 birds of some 250 different species visit or breed on the estate’s wetlands and benefit from the ample food supply (fish, invertebrates and wetland plants called macrophytes). Furthermore, the almost 8000 acres of permanently flooded aquaculture marshland play an important role as a refuge for the natural fish fauna of the Guadalquivir river estuary, including for several endangered species.

Apart from the aquaculture operation, Veta la Palma also has an extensive horse and cattle operation for organic beef and grows some dry-farmed crops. About 6000 acres of the Estate are dedicated to the production of feed for the livestock, using a rotation system without fertilizers or pesticides, which also benefits steppe birds, such as stone curlew (Burhinus oedicnemus) or pin-tailed sandgrouse (Pterocles alchata). Another 1,000 acres are used to cultivate rice. The remaining 12,000 acres are set aside as a conservation area. The reclaimed wetland habitat and sustainable production methods employed on the estate have succeeded in boosting the area’s biodiversity, while generating economic value.

5 THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group Veta la Palma pioneered the integration of aquaculture with the recovery of disturbed salt marshes or coastal wetlands, playing a useful role in combining economic activity and protection of biodiversity at a landscape level. The National Park authorities understood the ecological, social, and economic importance of the business, and have been collaborating closely with PIMSA to ensure that local people derive a sustainable economic benefit, while fostering a wide range of environmental values. The principal challenge for the business is to overcome situations of economic crisis without sacrificing its sustainability mission. It is helped by the diversity of the system, which is also a source of strength and resilience when dealing with changes. In the future PIMSA plans to diversify into other high quality, environment-friendly products as a way of maintaining a good position in an increasingly global market without losing its identity.

As a result of its pioneer efforts at integrating aquaculture and marsh area restoration, Veta la Palma has been included as a partner in the project “Sustainable and environmentally friendly aquaculture in the Atlantic Region of Europe (SEAFARE)”, which is led by the Atlantic Arc Aquaculture Group, an interregional consortium from France, Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Spain, that focuses on environmentally sustainable aquaculture.

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STRATEGIC PLANING OF AQUACULTURE

Marine aquaculture planning in Scotland

Aquaculture in Scotland is guided by Scottish Government, with planning of individual developments governed by Local Authorities.

The Scottish Government aims to promote policy that supports the sustainable economic growth of aquaculture. The need for high standards of environmental protection is recognised at every stage of fish farm planning, operation and regulation.

In Scotland, the Local Authority is the competent authority in relation to fish farm developments. All new or modifying fin-fish developments (over 0.1 hectare) are subject to EIA screening (and on the recommendation of a positive screening response, EIA scoping).

The Local Authority is also required to take into account the direct and cumulative effects of the proposed development on the environment. This may include the carrying capacity (designated on the basis of predictive modelling to estimate nutrient enhancement and benthic impact in sea lochs), visual impact and the effects on the landscape (landscape guidance is produced by SNH), effects on the marine historic environment and the sea or loch bed, and fish disease risk.

In instances where a development is likely to have a significant effect on a SAC, an Appropriate Assessment is undertaken to address the potential impact on the conservation feature prior to any planning decision being taken by the competent authority.

Any new development (or modification, depending on what that modification involves) must also obtain a licence either from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency or from Marine Scotland in relation to discharges from fish farm sites, or wellboats. In addition, a voluntary Code of Good Practice has been developed by Government and fish farming stakeholders addressing a range of issues outwith planning control, including: cage and equipment design, bio-security, management and operational practices.

Spatial planning for aquaculture in Scotland dates back to the late 1980s, when Highland Regional Council began to produce Fish Farming Framework Plans to fill a perceived gap in planning guidance for the industry at local level. This approach has since been adopted by other local authorities and refined over time.

Loch Sunart is an example of an aquaculture framework plan that incorporates a marine SAC: http://www.highland.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/9676B889-D077-4B70-8706- 0AF9EBAE3720/0/loch_sunart_september_2004.pdf

Recently, there have been attempts to develop more integrated plans, covering aquaculture alongside other activities, and extending into the marine environment. Detailed plans like those for Sound of Mull and Loch Fyne have attempted to highlight areas for potential expansion of aquaculture developments, based on constraints mapping. This has proved more difficult in plans covering larger areas (like that for Shetland). Examples of these more integrated plans are:

Sound of Mull marine planning pilot: - General policies on aquaculture:

7 THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/planning-and-environment/Sound %20of%20Mull%20Final%20Plan%20-%20Part%201%20(updated%20June %202011).pdf

- Locational policies for aquaculture: http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/sites/default/files/planning-and-environment/Sound %20of%20Mull%20Marine%20Spatial%20Plan%20Part%202.pdf

Loch Fyne ICZM plan http://www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/planning-and-environment/loch-fyne-integrated-coastal- zone-management-plan

Shetland marine planning pilot http://www.nafc.ac.uk/WebData/Files/Part%20One%20Policy%20Framework.pdf

Looking into the future: A National Marine Plan (of which a pre-consultation-consultation has recently taken place) will govern more detailed planning at the regional level and bring greater clarify to decision making in the marine environment. In addition, Local Authority development plans will provide advice on areas that are suitable for aquaculture development and areas where such development may be constrained.

Scottish Government website http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/marine/Fish-Shellfish

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NATURA-areas in the Finnish aquaculture site selection plan

Cultivated rainbow trout is the main raw material for Finnish fish processing industry and fish trade. The demand of farmed fish has continuously grown, but the supply of domestic fish has declined due to the highly restrictive environmental policy. Therefore, the aquaculture industry, fisheries administration and researchers have been very active to develop methods to decrease the nutrient load of the fish farms. A huge improvement has been attained, mainly through development of environmentally friendly fish feeds. In spite of the present very low nutrient load (2-3% of the total amount of phosphorus and nitrogen) the Finnish fish farms have not been allowed to grow, and the units are today very small compared to other producer countries. Therefore, the competitiveness of the Finnish aquaculture industry has suffered. At the moment Finnish water areas are verified in order to find suitable water areas for larger fish farms. Regional aquaculture site selection plans are prepared for the coastal and inland water areas.

The purpose of aquaculture site selection plan is to direct new fish farms to water areas, which are suitable from the environmental, fish farmers´ and other coastal users’ point of view. The preparing of site selection plan is based on the national aquaculture program, which was approved by the Finnish Council of State in June 2009. The goal of this program is to harmonise the industrial and environmental aquaculture policies in a way that enables ecologically, socially and economically sustainable development of Finnish aquaculture. The aquaculture site selection plan of Southwest Finland and Satakunta is prepared in a wide regional expert working group, which has delegates from the aquaculture industry, environmental and fishery administration, regional planning organisations and research.

The Southwest Finland and Satakunta working group used GIS spatial planning tool to identify suitable water areas for aquaculture production. At the coast unsuitable water areas were excluded with buffers concerning the depth of sea, summer cottages, water ways, nature protection areas etc. In addition the impacts of location were analysed with an ecosystem and water quality model. The overall environmental impacts of a national aquaculture site selection plan are evaluated during 2011, and thereafter the final plan is approved by the common decision of the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry probably in the end of year 2011.

The ecological state of Archipelago Sea is mainly satisfactory (Figure 1). Thus, the starting point there is that the environmental loading of aquaculture must not grow. However, fish farmers in the Archipelago Sea are able to concentrate their dispersed production units in bigger units further away from the coastline in the archipelago. In that way they can lower loading nearby summer cottages, minimize conflicts with other coastal users and increase the competitiveness of the production. The ecological state of Bothnian Sea is good, and thereby fish farmers are allowed to increase their production. There is plenty of room left for fish farming in the open-sea areas, but a lot of research and development are still needed prior to start production in open-sea in the Finnish climate conditions. However, only very few suitable water areas were found in the coastal area with the analysis. Most of the potential sheltered sites were in national parks and NATURA-2000 areas with none or limited possibilities to establish new aquaculture production (Figure 2).

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Figure 1. The preliminary aquaculture site selection map of Southwest Finland and Satakunta. Fish farmers in the may concentrate their present production in green water areas (ecological state satisfactory) and increase their production in dark blue (ecological state good). Fish farmers may start significantly bigger units than the present ones in the violet water area (ecological state excellent).

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Figure 2. National parks and NATURA-2000 areas in Southwest Finland and Satakunta. In the preliminary site selection plan fish farms were not directed in national parks. Moreover, the working group suggested that new fish farms should not be without complete investigations established in NATURA-2000 areas with underwater reefs (SCI sites/Habitat Directive), if the depth of sea is lower than 20 meters. In addition, a 500 meter wide safety zone during the nesting time was modeled around the bird Islands in NATURA-2000 areas (SPA sites/Bird Directive) (Figure 3). With these wide safety zones it is unlikely that fish farms have a significant effect to the nature values protected with NATURA-2000 areas. However, the need for NATURA assessment is evaluated in connection with production license application. Fish farmers can apply production licenses in the water areas, which are not identified in the aquaculture site selection plan. If this kind of site is inside NATURA area, exhaustive NATURA impact evaluations are needed to support the application.

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Figure 3. Water areas, which were excluded from the preliminary aquaculture site selection plan due to the NATURA 2000 areas.

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APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT OF AQUACULTURE ACTIVITIES

Scientific Programme for Conservation Objective Setting and Appropriate Assessment in Ireland

Site-specific conservation objectives are being set for all Natura 2000 sites (up to 100 sites) that host aquaculture and fishing activities to facilitate appropriate assessments that will inform licensing decisions. The scientific programme employs a suite of approaches depending upon the Annex habitat or species concerned. The following examples present scientific outputs as they relate to Castlemaine Harbour in the south west of Ireland; the site is designated a Special Area of Conservation and a Special Protection Area.

For marine habitats in Special Areas of Conservation, stratified random sampling of intertidal and subtidal sediment habitats for grain size distribution and macrofaunal diversity and abundances is being used to investigate Annex I habitat structure and function. Fine scale mapping of highly sensitive communities such as Zostera and maërl have also been undertaken. Multivariate analysis of the data reveals broadscale community types that are sufficiently stable to form the basis of conservation efforts. Intertidal and subtidal reef surveys are also being undertaken to map their location, extent and exposure regime. A combination of aerial imagery, ortho-photos and walk overs are undertaken for intertidal reefs while acoustic, drop down and/or diver surveys are employed for subtidal reefs.

In relation to bird features within Special Protection Areas, the 2009/10 waterbird survey programme was designed to investigate how waterbirds are distributed across coastal wetland sites during the low tide period. The surveys run alongside and are complementary to the Irish Wetland Bird Survey (I-WeBS) which is a survey undertaken primarily on a rising tide or at high tide. At Castlemaine Harbour SPA, a survey programme of four low tide counts and a single high tide count was completed across the site. Waterbird species were counted across a series of 24 count sections (subsites) (see figure below). Behaviour was recorded within two categories (foraging or roosting/other) and position of birds was noted in relation to broad habitat types.

The definitions of the broad habitats intertidal, subtidal, supratidal and terrestrial were defined specifically for the survey programme and these definitions are not the same as strict scientific definitions for these habitats. In addition to the main survey programme described above, an additional ‘roost survey’ was undertaken at high tide. During this survey, roost sites were located,species and numbers counted and the position of the roosts marked onto field maps.

The data gathered is used to develop site-specific conservation objectives and targets (e.g., Table 1). Key ecological details are then mapped and presented as GIS layers (see figures) to facilitate the appropriate assessment process.

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Appropriate Assessments & Shellfisheries: Adaptive Management Protocol2

The Adaptive Management approach sets a step-by-step protocol to enable its application to new developments in European Marine Sites. The protocol aims to address concerns over negative effects or impacts on the environment raised during Appropriate Assessments which could prevent the operation from proceeding.

The development of the Adaptive Management protocol is a direct result of requirements identified in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by SAGB and NE in 2007. The MoU aims to deliver protection and sustainable use of the natural environment in European Marine Sites through a joint commitment to developing more sustainable exploitation patterns in shellfishery and farm operations and the adoption of an ecosystem-based management approach.

The marine environment is inherently complex, dynamic and often unpredictable. This complexity results in limitations to scientific understanding of potential negative effects resulting from anthropogenic activities such as shellfishery or farm operations. Although a body of literature exists on the recorded effects of shellfishery and farm operations on marine communities and habitats, site specific conditions make accurate predictions of negative effects difficult. Conservation and fisheries managers are frequently presented with varying degrees of ‘uncertainty’ when attempting to assess or consenting new shellfisheries and shellfish farm developments in European Marine Sites. This uncertainty and lack of knowledge often precludes effective management, and can cause significant delays or prevent the consenting process of new shellfishery or farm developments in European Marine Sites,.

Adaptive Management is a key component of ecosystem-based management. Adaptive Management applies a scientifically rigorous approach to address ‘uncertainty’ by developing knowledge from the results of trials of alternative management measures, essentially ‘learning by doing’. When applied to shellfisheries or cultivation developments this approach may enable a shellfishery or farm operation to begin while developing best practice operational and management measures affording the protection to the environment.

When faced with ‘Uncertainty’ managers have a number of options for action:

1. Discount the uncertainty. Managers may wish to discount uncertainties and base management decisions on the best available information and knowledge. This approach may lead to negative fishery and conservation outcomes particularly where there is no monitoring of the potential effects or impacts.

2. Postpone consents until uncertainties are addressed. Managers may delay consenting or management actions until uncertainties can be addressed. It may be scientifically difficult, and the costs impractically high for the shellfish industry to address these uncertainties. This option leaves the ‘uncertainty’ unaddressed and the consenting process stops which would result in significant socio-economic impacts on the shellfish industry.

3. Overly cautious decision making. Managers may make decisions based on the worst case scenario leading to overly restrictive outcomes for the shellfish industry. With insufficient understanding of the potential effects of developments Appropriate

2 Report provided by Natural England. This report is a joint publication produced in partnership between the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB), Natural England (NE) and Seafish. 17 THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group Assessments are unable to proceed and where the risk of disturbance to site features is judged to be unacceptable the ‘Precautionary Principle is applied.

4. Adaptive Management or ‘Learning by Doing’ approach. Managers can adopt an adaptive management approach and consent to the development under strict and agreed management regime. Managers and developers work in partnership to design a monitoring plan which provides information that resolves key uncertainties and guides adaptation of the shellfishery or farm operations, which ultimately means: - The designated site features remain protected; - The shellfishery or farm development proceeds, and; - A better understanding is developed about the site and the effects of operations.

The Adaptive Management approach is favoured by both SAGB and NE when dealing with ‘uncertainties’ over the effects of shellfishery or farm developments in or close to European Marine Sites.

Adaptive management is an iterative process which applies a scientifically rigorous approach to address ‘uncertainty’ by developing understanding from the results of trials of alternative management measures. The approach combines existing knowledge, investigates alternative management options and makes predictions about their effects on the environment. Management options and monitoring programs are designed to produce accurate and robust information in order to test the predictions and to provide information on the environmental effects of alternative management options. Management options and objectives are then adjusted based on this information and improved understanding.

- Adaptive management acknowledges that there is uncertainty about how marine ecosystems function and how they respond to shellfishery and farm operations. - Adaptive management aims to improve understanding of alternative shellfishery and farm management actions and their effectiveness in achieving fishery and environmental management objectives. - Adaptive management makes use of shellfishery and farm management actions and follow-up monitoring to address ‘uncertainty’ promote understanding and improve subsequent management actions. - Adaptive management can improve the performance of shellfish fishing and farming operations.

There are multiple benefits to be gained by adopting an adaptive management approach when developing new shellfishery or farms in or close to European Marine Sites. The key advantage of this approach is its capacity to enable a development to proceed where the alternative would be the failure to gain consents or licences. The costs incurred in participating in a monitoring programme and management plan will most likely outweigh those of not proceeding with a shellfishery or farm development.

In addition to the commercial benefits of adopting this approach all participants will benefit from a well designed adaptive management programme. Such a programme could: - Develop better ways of meeting conservation and shellfishery or farm management objectives; - Identify key gaps in understanding that lead to uncertainty and prevent effective shellfishery, farm and conservation management; - Improve understanding of ecosystem responses, thresholds and dynamics, in order to adapt shellfishery and farm practices to fit changing socio-economic and ecological conditions including climate change; - Produce reliable feedback about effectiveness of alternative shellfishery and farm practices helping the industry to optimise their operations through for example, better husbandry practices or sustainable exploitation;

18 THE N2K GROUP European Economic Interest Group - Encourage innovation, learning and understanding between managers and shellfish industrystakeholders; - Adaptive management may also help detect and address cumulative, long-term, large- scale, and emergent effects of shellfishery and farm operations.

The 8 step Adaptive Management protocol:

A series of Case Studies illustrate examples of the use of the Adaptive Management approach in the establishment and management of shellfisheries and cultivation operations in UK European Marine Sites.