Final Report Aquafin CRC - Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram: Tuna environment subproject - Development of regional environmental sustainability assessments for tuna sea-cage aquaculture Jason E. Tanner (Editor) August 2007 Aquafin CRC Project 4.3.3 (FRDC Project No.2001/104) This publication may be cited as: Tanner, J.E. (Ed.) 2007. Aquafin CRC – Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram: Tuna environment subproject – Development of regional environmental sustainability assessments for tuna sea-cage aquaculture. Technical report, Aquafin CRC Project 4.3.3, FRDC Project 2001/104. Aquafin CRC, Fisheries Research & Development Corporation and South Australian Research & Development Institute (Aquatic Sciences), Adelaide. SARDI Publication No F2007/000803-1 SARDI Research Report Series No.235, 286pp. © (Aquafin CRC, SARDI and FRDC) This work is copyright. Except as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth), no part of this publication may be reproduced by any process, electronic or otherwise, without the specific written permission of the copyright owners. Neither may information be stored electronically in any form whatsoever without such permission. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate information in this document. However, no liability attaches to Aquafin CRC, its Participant organisations or any other organisation or individual concerned with the supply of information or preparation of this document for any consequences of using the information contained in the document. Printed by SARDI Aquatic Sciences PO Box 120 Henley Beach SA 5022 August 2007 SARDI Research Report Series Number 235 SARDI Aquatic Sciences Publication Number F2007/000803-1 ISBN Number 978 0 7 308 53756 Author(s): Jason Tanner ( Ed.) Reviewers: Steven Clarke (SARDI), Simon Bryars (SARDI), Milena Fernandes (SARDI) Approved by: Mehdi Doroudi Signed: Date: 29 August 2007 Circulation: Public domain i Aquafin CRC - Southern Bluefin Tuna Aquaculture Subprogram: Tuna environment subproject - Development of regional environmental sustainability assessments for tuna sea-cage aquaculture Edited by Jason E. Tanner SARDI Aquatic Sciences 2 Hamra Ave West Beach SA 5024 August 2007 Aquafin CRC Project 4.3.3 (FRDC Project No. 2001/104) ii Table of Contents Chapter 1 Identification and assessment of potential environmental risks for tuna aquaculture in South Australia ........................................................ 1 1.1 Executive Summary............................................................................................................1 1.2 Introduction.........................................................................................................................4 1.2.1 History ..........................................................................................................................5 1.2.2 The present situation ..................................................................................................5 1.3 Risk Assessment..................................................................................................................8 1.4 Results.................................................................................................................................14 1.5 Discussion..........................................................................................................................16 1.6 Other species/communities and processes...................................................................18 1.6.1 Impact of imported feed on other elements .........................................................18 1.7 Protected/Threatened/Endangered species.................................................................23 1.7.1 Dolphins (Bottlenose & Common)........................................................................23 1.7.2 Seals and Sea lions.....................................................................................................25 1.7.3 Seabirds.......................................................................................................................29 1.7.4 Sharks (e.g. dusky & bronze whalers, and great white sharks) ...........................31 1.8 Nutrients.............................................................................................................................34 1.8.1 Natural background levels of nutrients..................................................................34 1.9 Conclusion .........................................................................................................................39 1.9.1 Current research ........................................................................................................39 1.9.2 Research required......................................................................................................40 1.9.3 Monitoring and Management required ..................................................................41 1.10 References........................................................................................................................41 1.11 Appendix I: List of invitees and attendees..................................................................49 1.12 Appendix II: Component Tree 3..................................................................................50 1.13 Appendix III: Summary of issues determined and discussed during the workshop .........................................................................................................................51 Chapter 2 Potential for use of remote sensing in the management of marine finfish aquaculture in South Australia ................................................... 58 2.1 Executive Summary..........................................................................................................58 2.2 Literature Review ..............................................................................................................59 2.3 Feasibility Analysis............................................................................................................59 2.4 Recommendations ............................................................................................................60 2.5 Introduction.......................................................................................................................62 2.6 Terms of Reference ..........................................................................................................63 2.6.1 Objectives...................................................................................................................64 2.6.2 Scope...........................................................................................................................64 2.7 Review of Relevant Studies .............................................................................................65 2.7.1 Ocean Colour Sensors..............................................................................................65 2.7.2 Water Quality.............................................................................................................69 2.7.3 Algal Blooms..............................................................................................................71 2.7.4 Sea State......................................................................................................................73 2.7.5 Sea Surface Temperature..........................................................................................74 2.7.6 Sea Surface Salinity....................................................................................................75 2.7.7 Oil Slick Detection....................................................................................................75 2.7.8 Benthic Mapping .......................................................................................................76 2.8 Feasibility Analysis............................................................................................................77 2.8.1 Algal blooms ..............................................................................................................80 2.8.2 Water quality ..............................................................................................................80 2.8.3 Sea surface temperature............................................................................................81 2.8.4 Benthic communities ................................................................................................82 iii 2.9 Recommendations ............................................................................................................83 2.10 Pilot Programs.................................................................................................................85 2.11 Appendix..........................................................................................................................89 2.11.1 Map of Finfish locations ........................................................................................89 2.11.2 Catalogue of Sensors ..............................................................................................90 2.11.3 Future Sensors:........................................................................................................92 2.11.4 Ocean Monitoring Satellites ..................................................................................93 2.12 References........................................................................................................................94