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The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea Gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with Its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation

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The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea Gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with Its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation Report for the Shellfish Association of Great Britain Final: August 2012 The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation Prepared by: Centre for Conservation Ecology & Environmental Science Bournemouth University Christchurch House Talbot Campus Fern Barrow Poole Dorset BH12 5BB ABP Marine Environmental Research Ltd Quayside Suite Medina Chambers Town Quay Southampton Hampshire SO14 2AQ Jhc research Prospect Cottage Happy Bottom Corfe Mullen Dorset BH21 3DP Plymouth University Centre for Marine and Coastal Policy Research Plymouth University Reynolds Building Drake Circus Plymouth PL4 8AA Suggested Citation: Herbert, R.J.H., Roberts, C., Humphreys, J. and Fletcher, S., 2012. The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation. Report for the Shellfish Association of Great Britain. (i) The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation Summary Introduction and Methods 1. This paper presents an independent review of current economic, legal and environmental issues pertaining to the Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas) industry in the UK. The study was commissioned by the Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB) and a steering group consisting of industry members and regulatory agencies. The study draws on evidence from comparable temperate regions around the world where Pacific oysters are grown and from UK and European stakeholders, industry, growers and regulators. 2. Although legally cultivated, wild Pacific oysters are classified as an invasive non-native species in the UK and the impetus for this study has been the ecological risk associated with the growth of wild populations of Pacific oysters as a result of rising sea temperatures caused by climate change. On the continent, the recent growth of wild populations has resulted in ‘reef’ formation which has displaced or modified habitat protected under EU Habitats legislation. There are concerns that this could also happen in the UK, resulting in protected areas not meeting favourable ecological condition status. Currently the UK Technical Advisory Group (UKTAG) has classified the species on the Water Framework Directive (WFD) ‘high impact list’, although a proposal has recently been made by UKTAG to move the species to a ‘moderate impact list’. An independent risk assessment commissioned by the GB Non Native Species Secretariat (NNSS) concluded that the species presents a ‘medium risk’. 3. These environmental concerns have created uncertainty over the future of UK Pacific oyster cultivation. Appropriate Assessments related to new Pacific oyster aquaculture licences have repeatedly failed to satisfy regulators that measures and mitigation have been put in place to reduce the ecological risks associated with wild settlement. Yet UK marine policy now includes a presumption in favour of sustainable development and there is a desire amongst stakeholders and regulators to promote the sustainable development of the industry. 4. A systematic (i.e. repeatable) review of evidence in the literature pertaining to all aspects of the study was conducted. In addition, a questionnaire was sent to all members of the SAGB and to all Mollusc Aquaculture Production Businesses (APBs) within England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A separate questionnaire was sent to the Inshore Fisheries and Conservation Authorities (IFCAs) to gather up-to-date information on wild settlement and management measures. Information on the cultivation and production processes was obtained during site visits, as were figures used to estimate the economic contribution of the species. Expert opinion was also sought from a wide range of other institutions and organisations. Cultivation and Economic Value 1. The risk of industry decline in the wake of uncertainty has prompted this review to provide a broad estimate of the economic value of the Pacific oyster industry in the UK and to review the beneficial ecosystem processes and services, including food production that wild settlement of Pacific oysters might provide. 2. The distinct cultivation and purification stages in the production of Pacific oysters suitable for consumption are reflected in a market structure in which individual companies may be involved in one or more of these processes. While some aquaculture and fishing companies also have depuration (ii) The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation operations, others sell on to companies that combine depuration and wholesale functions in the value chain. In some cases single companies (or groups with common or overlapping ownership) combine aquaculture and depuration with wholesale operations and even restaurants, thereby retaining most, or even all, of the value chain components within a single enterprise. 3. Around 1,200 tonnes of Pacific oysters are produced each year in the UK of which it is estimated that 67% is exported across the globe from France to south-east Asia. Based on 2011/12 prices and an analysis of the value chain, the total economic contribution as GVA (Gross Value Added), including indirect and induced effects, is estimated at £10.137 million. This value does not include seed production. 4. In addition to economic benefits, the case for long term growth in UK production is supported by strategic considerations including both food security and public health, particularly in the context of growing populations and the over- exploitation and plateauing of wild fisheries production. 5. With a large worldwide market, international demand will remain the key driver for British oyster production in the foreseeable future, and in this respect the comparatively low level of current UK production in comparison to neighbouring countries suggests that increasing market share, rather than just meeting growing demand, might provide a plausible component of business plans. Yet the fact that the 19th century British oyster boom was fuelled mainly by British consumption, along with hints from retail sales patterns, suggest significant growth in home consumption is feasible given appropriate marketing. 6. An extensive literature review provided evidence that wild Pacific oysters might provide beneficial ecosystem processes and services, in addition to food production via aquaculture, although these benefits are most likely to be associated with ‘reef’ formation that would only develop if wild settlement was particularly high. Relatively few studies have been carried out on wild Pacific oyster reefs, however some evidence was found for Crassostrea species (including C. gigas), although the beneficial characteristics and attributes of particular oyster species are likely to differ. 7. Collectively the beneficial ecosystem processes include biological control, formation of species habitat, formation of physical barriers (that attenuate the energy of water flow), erosion control, climate regulation and water purification. Biogeochemical cycling is an assumed beneficial ecosystem process based on the species’ water filtration function. Beneficial ecosystem services include fisheries, other wild harvesting, aquaculture, cultch materials (shells) and construction materials (shells). Other inferred beneficial ecosystem services are natural hazard protection, environmental resilience and pollution regulation. 8. With respect to the societal benefit of food provision, it is clear that on the south-east coast of England, the colonisation of C. gigas has enabled the survival of the oyster industry from income arising from the management of this additional resource. However, no other ecological or societal benefits that may arise from the development of C. gigas reefs or the use of C. gigas individuals (in the case of research and education) were found to be unique and these services are already being provided to some extent by other habitats. (iii) The Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) in the UK: Economic, Legal and Environmental Issues Associated with its Cultivation, Wild Establishment and Exploitation Origins of Larval Settlement 1. The first introduction of Crassostrea gigas to British waters can reliably be dated to 1890 or before and commercial importation of the Pacific oyster seed continued from 1926 until 1962. Although by 1965 the species was thought to have died out, it was known to be capable of “limited breeding” in the creeks of Essex and Kent and may have persisted in the Blackwater at least until 1970. 2. Although it has long been known that the species could episodically spawn in British waters, even as recently as 2002, the Pacific oyster was considered unlikely to be able to establish self- sustaining populations in the UK. However, although there is still a high level of uncertainty, current sea temperature projections are thought likely to result in certain non-native species, including C. gigas, recruiting every year in south-west England, Wales and Northern Ireland by 2040. An analysis of the effect of rising temperatures, under a medium emissions scenario, on the distribution of C.
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