AN AQUACULTURE STRATEGY FOR THE SOLWAY PREPARED BY POSEIDON AQUATIC RESOURCE MANAGEMENT LTD and THE CENTRE FOR MARINE AND COASTAL STUDIES JUNE 2007 FUNDED AND COORDINATED BY 358-GBR An Aquaculture Strategy for the Solway Final Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary 1 BACKGROUND.............................................................................................................1 1.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................1 1.2 THE SOLWAY .....................................................................................................................................1 1.3 AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE UK AND SOLWAY ....................................................... 3 1.4 AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE STRATEGY ...................................................................................5 1.5 SCOPE .................................................................................................................................................5 1.6 USE OF THE STRATEGY ....................................................................................................................6 1.7 METHODOLOGY ...............................................................................................................................7 2 THE EXISTING ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................... 8 2.1 POLICY AND REGULATORY FRAMEWORK ....................................................................................8 2.2 EXISTING MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES SPECIFIC TO THE SOLWAY ..21 2.3 USERS AND INTERESTS IN THE SOLWAY .....................................................................................25 2.4 OWNERSHIP OF THE FORESHORE IN THE SOLWAY ...................................................................28 3 REVIEW OF AQUACULTURE SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR THE SOLWAY........30 3.1 CONTEXT .........................................................................................................................................30 3.2 MUSSEL CULTIVATION ...................................................................................................................30 3.3 OYSTER CULTURE ...........................................................................................................................35 3.4 CLAM CULTIVATION .......................................................................................................................38 3.5 COCKLE RE-LAYING ......................................................................................................................39 4 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SHELLFISH AQUACULTURE ......................40 4.1 INTER -TIDAL SHELLFISH CULTURE .............................................................................................40 4.2 BOTTOM SHELLFISH CULTURE .....................................................................................................41 5 STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK ......................................................................................44 5.1 VISION OF AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOLWAY ..................................................44 5.2 GUIDING PRINCIPLES FOR SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT IN THE SOLWAY . 44 5.3 STRATEGIC ELEMENTS ..................................................................................................................45 6 STRATEGY ELEMENT 1: SITING ISSUES AND GUIDELINES..........................46 6.1 NATURE CONSERVATION ..............................................................................................................46 6.2 LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL AMENITY ............................................................................................63 6.3 INSHORE FISHERIES AND SEA ANGLING ....................................................................................68 6.4 TOURISM AND RECREATIONAL USE ............................................................................................73 6.5 CULTURAL HERITAGE ....................................................................................................................76 6.6 ACCESS AND SUPPORT INFRASTRUCTURE ...................................................................................76 6.7 WATER QUALITY ............................................................................................................................78 7 STRATEGY ELEMENT 2: OUTLINE ZONING PLAN .........................................81 7.1 DEVELOPMENT OF A ZONING PLAN ...........................................................................................81 7.2 ZONING PLAN .................................................................................................................................83 7.3 CARRYING CAPACITY .....................................................................................................................96 June 2007 POSEIDON Aquatic Resource Management Ltd & CMACS An Aquaculture Strategy for the Solway Final Report 8 STRATEGY ELEMENT 3: MANAGEMENT ISSUES AND APPROACHES ........97 8.1 DISTURBANCE .................................................................................................................................97 8.2 PREDATOR CONTROL ..................................................................................................................100 9 STRATEGY ELEMENT 4: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT.................................... 102 9.1 PRODUCTION POTENTIAL ...........................................................................................................102 9.2 MARKET POTENTIAL ....................................................................................................................104 9.3 BUSINESS STRATEGY .....................................................................................................................105 9.4 EMPLOYMENT POTENTIAL & SOCIO -ECONOMIC IMPACT ......................................................108 10 STRATEGY ELEMENT 5: STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION............................ 112 10.1 DEVELOP PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENTS ...............................................................................112 10.2 IMPROVE UNDERSTANDING AND SUPPORT FOR AQUACULTURE IN THE SOLWAY ..............113 10.3 SECURE AND PROMOTE INVESTMENT IN AQUACULTURE .......................................................114 10.4 DEVELOP THE MARKET FOR SOLWAY AQUACULTURE PRODUCTS ........................................115 10.5 ADD VALUE THROUGH INNOVATION AND INTEGRATION .....................................................116 10.6 PROMOTE SUSTAINABILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT .....................................117 Appendices APPENDIX A: TERMS OF REFERENCE ................................................................................................................................................118 APPENDIX B: PEOPLE MET ..................................................................................................................................................................121 APPENDIX C: REFERENCES AND BIBLIOGRAPHY ............................................................................................................................122 APPENDIX D: CROWN ESTATE SHELLFISH RENTS ..........................................................................................................................125 APPENDIX E: BIRD DISTRIBUTION MAPS .........................................................................................................................................126 APPENDIX F: IMPACT OF LANDSCAPE AND VISUAL IMPACT OF MARINE SHELLFISH OPERATIONS .....................................141 June 2007 POSEIDON Aquatic Resource Management Ltd & CMACS An Aquaculture Strategy for the Solway Final Report Maps MAP 1: THE SOLWAY – TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE .....................................................................................................................2 MAP 2: EXISTING AND DISUSED AQUACULTURE TRIAL SITES IN THE SOLWAY ...........................................................................4 MAP 3: PRIVATE OWNERSHIP OF THE FORESHORE IN THE SOLWAY ............................................................................................29 MAP 4: TIDAL CHARACTERISTICS OF THE SOLWAY ...........................................................................................................................31 MAP 5: NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS (S PECIAL AREAS OF CONSERVATION ) .......................................................48 MAP 6: NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS (SPECIAL PROTECTION AREAS / RAMSAR SITES ).....................................49 MAP 7: NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS (S ITES OF SPECIAL SCIENTIFIC INTEREST )................................................50 MAP 8: NATURE CONSERVATION DESIGNATIONS (N ATIONAL AND LOCAL NATURE RESERVES ) .........................................51 MAP 9: LOCATION OF ZOSTERA AND SABELLARIA BEDS ...............................................................................................................56 MAP 10: LANDSCAPE (N ATIONAL LANDSCAPE DESIGNATIONS )...................................................................................................64 MAP 11: COCKLE FISHERY ZONES 2006 – 2007.................................................................................................................................69 MAP 12: COCKLE BED LOCATIONS IN THE SOLWAY ........................................................................................................................70