Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Leases Jervis Bay, NSW - FAQs Why is NSW DPI Fisheries developing aquaculture leases in Jervis Bay? The NSW Government recognises the need to look at opportunities for sustainable seafood production. This project picks up on investor interest and a request to develop an aquaculture management plan by the Marine Parks Authority to ensure consistency between aquaculture development and Marine Park management plans on Jervis Bay. Previous shellfish aquaculture activities in Jervis Bay provided employment and fresh seafood to the local community, tourists and other markets. Oyster aquaculture was undertaken from the 1930’s, Blue Mussel culture on rafts commenced in the late 1970’s and NSW DPI Fisheries used longlines to grow and seed four million scallops into the bay in the 1990’s. Aerial view of the location of the approved Commercial Shellfish Aquaculture Leases and the former Blue Mussel leases in Jervis Bay. How much area will the aquaculture leases occupy? Three commercial shellfish aquaculture leases are approved for Jervis Bay. Two 20 hectare leases (600x340m) are located 1.5 km and 1.9 km southeast from Callala Beach, and one 10 hectare lease (340x300m) is located 0.7 km north of Orion Beach in Vincentia, in close proximity to two former mussel aquaculture lease sites. 50 hectares represents 0.4% of the area of Jervis Bay and is less than the 440 hectares originally proposed for aquaculture in the Jervis Bay Zoning Plan. Are the aquaculture lease activities permitted within the Jervis Bay Marine Park? The commercial shellfish aquaculture leases are located in the Habitat Protection Zone of the Jervis Bay Marine Park, which is a multiple use zone that caters for a wide range of activities. The extensive aquaculture activities are permissible within this zone. What process was undertaken to approve the aquaculture leases? In 2013/14, NSW DPI Fisheries prepared and submitted an Environment Impact Statement (EIS) and draft Environment Management Plan, Visual Amenity Study and Submissions Report. These were lodged as part of a State Significant Infrastructure application to the Department of Planning and Environment. See http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=5657 What will be placed on the leases? Longline culture systems would be used on the leases to culture the approved species which include Blue Mussels, Sydney Rock, Native & Pearl Oysters, Scallops and naturally occurring algae. These are the same systems as used by NSW DPI Fisheries in the 1990’s in Jervis Bay and currently used in Twofold Bay, NSW. Rafts will not be used. Longlines include an anchoring and mooring system that is connected to a rope ‘backbone’ from which shellfish would be suspended. The number of longlines within each lease may vary depending on the wave climate, depth and currents at each site. A diagram of a longline system typically used for Blue Mussel culture. A diagram of a longline system and cages typically used for shellfish culture (eg Scallops). The number of dark coloured surface buoys used along each longline system would vary depending on the growth stage of the stock and the need to secure cultured stock at an appropriate depth off the seafloor away from potential predators. Longline aquaculture within the marine environment has been undertaken worldwide for more than 40 years. Longline infrastructure is designed and constructed using established engineering knowledge and ongoing research ensures that engineering standards continue to improve. Why were the sites chosen? A constraint mapping investigation was conducted to identify the most suitable locations for leases within Jervis Bay. Constraints considered included: Marine Park Sanctuary Zones; Commonwealth Waters; designated anchor/mooring areas; wharves and boat ramps; main passage for recreational boating and sailing courses; Naval training and mooring areas; seagrass beds; rocky reefs; dolphin aggregation areas; most frequented fishing and diving locations; bait gathering areas; water depth; and proximity to former lease areas. Jervis Bay has characteristics that make it highly suitable for shellfish aquaculture. It has: excellent water quality; is well sheltered from most prevailing weather conditions; has a suitable depth profile; and it is well serviced with local infrastructure and major seafood markets. Shellfish aquaculture also has previously been undertaken in Jervis Bay. How has the shellfish leases been assessed? A State Significant Infrastructure application was lodged with the Department of Planning and Environment and was determined by the Minister for Planning. How have potential issues been identified and mitigated? NSW DPI Fisheries undertook a community consultation process to identify potential issues associated with the aquaculture leases. Issues raised in consultation were addressed in the EIS. The EIS was exhibited October/November 2013, face to face meetings were held, over 100 emails with the EIS Summary Document were sent to stakeholders, media releases were provided to local press, the Department of Planning and Environment posted 500 letters to residents, community “drop-in” information days were held at Vincentia and Callala Beach, and buoys and lease corner markers were placed on two of the leases to help the community better understand where the leases were proposed and what the infrastructure may look like. A risk analysis was included in the EIS. A draft Environmental Management Plan was also developed to detail how identified risks will be mitigated. Submissions raised during the EIS exhibition period were considered in the Submissions Report and ultimately addressed in the consent conditions. Is there a risk to the environment using the longline culture method? Longline systems are the predominant culture method for shellfish cultivation in Australia. The impacts of the leases on the marine environment in Jervis Bay are not anticipated to be significant given previous experience of aquaculture in Jervis Bay and the technology to be used. Current environmental monitoring in Twofold Bay under the existing mussel longlines shows little or no impact on the benthic environment from mussel farming activity. The operator of the leases will be required to carry out a monitoring program for water quality and the sea floor to asses any impacts of farming activities. Operators must report annually on activities and an independent environmental audit will be required routinely. The cultured shellfish will rely on natural foods for growth resulting in a nett export of carbon and nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus from the waters of Jervis Bay. Will the lease infrastructure have an adverse interaction with marine fauna? To prevent adverse interactions with marine fauna the latest longline culture technologies and designs would be employed. Mooring, anchor and backbone ropes would be kept under tension to prevent marine fauna entanglement. Since the mid- 1970s, there have been no entanglement impacts on marine mammals with the farming infrastructure in Twofold Bay. How will the longline lease infrastructure be marked to make sure it is not a hazard to water safety and navigation, particularly at night? NSW Roads and Maritime Services require that the extremities of aquaculture leases to be marked with appropriate navigational buoys with lights. Notices to mariners would also be issued and the leases would be marked on navigational charts. How much extra boating traffic will it create in Jervis Bay? During the construction phase the movement of vessels between the leases and wharf facilities may be from 0-6 return trips per day to install the longline infrastructure. Once the infrastructure is established the movement of vessels would be in the range of 0-3 return trips per day to undertake harvesting, repair and maintenance of infrastructure and cleaning. The vessels would range from trailer boats to larger fishing vessels. Will I be able to access the lease area for fishing and diving? For personal safety, recreational boaters, fishers, spear fisherman and divers should remain outside the lease areas which will be delineated by navigational markers. It is an offence to tie up or interfere or damage anything in the lease areas. How will the lease infrastructure impact on coastal processes? The supporting buoys and backbone will float on or near the water's surface and will have a degree of flexibility. Waves will pass over and through this infrastructure with no significant alteration to wave processes. The longline infrastructure would also be cleaned regularly to ensure biofouling does not build up and obstruct water movement. Will you be able to see the longline infrastructure from the shoreline or local lookouts? The northern and southern Callala Leases are located 1.5 km and 1.9 km, respectively from Callala Beach, while the Vincentia Lease is 0.7km north of Orion Beach. The profile of the longline infrastructure and service vessels will be partly visible. Consent conditions seek to minimise the visibility of the longline infrastructure by: limiting the number, size and colour of surface buoys; minimising and streamlining surface infrastructure by limiting the height at which buoys are set; maximising subsurface infrastructure; and maintaining a low profile. There is opportunity for a staged development at the Vincentia site based on a performance review. Service vessels will also be very similar to existing fishing, dive and whale/dolphin watching vessels that frequently navigate