Case Study Presentations

The case study authors presented their case studies.

Brazilian Aquaculture Parks—Fish Farming and Mariculture (Felipe Matias)

In Brazil, the waters are either owned by the federal government (Union) or by the states. Union waters hold a great potential for Brazilian aquaculture. More than 200 reservoirs (to generate electricity) are available for aquaculture with a carrying capacity of almost 2.5 million tonnes of fish per year. For over 20 years we attempted to achieve the use of these reservoirs for fish production, but the existing legal framework at that time did not make it possible. In 2003, Decree 4895/2003 enabled the legal certainty necessary for the implementation of aquaculture areas and aquaculture parks; the first concessions were awarded in 2009.
There are now fish farms in more than 10 reservoirs.
Demarcation of the areas and parks requires expensive and lengthy studies, which measure technical, geographical, social, economic and environmental parameters.
After the studies, the parks are demarcated and public hearings held to discuss the implementation and their occupation. There are two crucial issues surrounding this program: i) environmental monitoring, which should allow a simple and faster environmental licensing process and ii) the management of parks, which should enable an orderly settlement.
The exchange of experiences with other countries working on aquaculture parks and the support of institutions such as FAO and the World Bank will be very useful for Brazil to move forward with this public policy. It could make Brazil one of the largest aquaculture producers in the world with sustainability.

Chile Case: The Spatial Planning of Marine Cage Farming (Salmon) (Adolfo Alvial)

The Chilean salmon farming has shown impressive growth. In 25 years the country became the leader in farmed trout production and second in farmed salmon production. In general, regulations moved the industry growth back, generating several gaps that did not help prevent environmental and fish health problems. In fact, in 2007 the ISA (infectious salmon anemia) crisis caused serious social and economic impacts on the industry and the country. This has prompted significant changes in regulations triggering the spatial management that complements the initial Appropriated Areas for Aquaculture (AAA) and Licenses. Groups of licenses (AMAs or neighborhoods) were established as well as macro zones.
An integrated spatial management system is now in place which, despite some weaknesses, has contributed to coordinating the efforts to control diseases, improve efficacy of measures to address sanitary risk and create better conditions for environmental/sanitary recovery of the macro zone. Improvements still have to be done to move closer to an ecosystem approach to aquaculture, principally emphasizing carrying capacity studies and tools, interaction with communities and other sectors, increasing participation and developing incentives. The most significant contribution of the AMA system has been the increase in social capital in the industry and a higher level of public-private interaction.

Zonal Aquaculture Management in China and Indonesia (Anton Immink)

The best examples of zonal management are seen in the salmon industry and were developed, in the pioneering countries of Norway and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The systems are far from ideal but they have helped protect the environment, minimise disease impacts and support the industry to flourish in a sustainable manner. Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP) is using the zonal management model developed in Scotland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, to apply in tilapia, pangasius and shrimp industries in Asia through Aquaculture Improvement Projects (AIPs). Zonal management in salmon production was a response to both chronic and acute disease outbreaks, production issues over continuous use of the same sites and continued external pressure over environmental impacts.
The geographic translation to Asia mandates a shift in cultures, species, capacities and systems. There are challenges interpreting lessons from a relatively low farm density region to areas with almost contiguous production and from cages to ponds, but these challenges need to be overcome in order to ensure sustainable production for the industry, the environment and the local population. SFP is working with local aquaculture sectors in China, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam to strengthen the scientific advisory to support effective policy for realistic industry development and to ensure the producers themselves use better practices on farm and are organised to enable them to have a unified voice in their future. Case studies in China and Indonesia are provided.

Spatial Planning of Marine Finfish Aquaculture Facilities in Indonesia (Roberto Mayerle and Ketut Sugama)

This paper presents results of the application of a procedure for supporting decision makers in the sustainable management of finfish coastal cage aquaculture in Indonesia. The investigations were carried out under a project commissioned by the German and Indonesian governments. The aim was the development and application of a stepwise procedure according to zoning, site selection, carrying capacities and biosecurity for the estimation of the sustainable fish farm production in coastal areas. These have been carried out in several coastal sites in Indonesia. The case study presents results from a site in the northwest of Bali.
Aquaculture management areas were designated and recommendations on the suitable locations of cages and carrying capacities to ensure environmental sustainability proposed. The recommendations are being implemented in cooperation with the local authorities. The methodology adopted, which is integrating field measurements and high-resolution numerical models within a decision support system, proved to be effective for Indonesian conditions and well suited to the estimation of the country’s potential in coastal cage aquaculture. Recommendations to improve existing aquaculture regulations were made. The need for intensifying communications between public institutions and stakeholders to facilitate the enforcement of the results was pointed out.

Shrimp Farming in Mexico (Giovanni Fiore Amaral)

Mexico’s shrimp farming industry began in the 1970s in the northwest states of Sonora, Sinaloa and Nayarit.
Farming was in ponds with low stocking rates. Current estimates indicate that the national surface area of shrimp ponds is around 70,000 hectares, however the technology has changed little. Nevertheless, shrimp farming represents one of the most profitable aquaculture sectors in Mexico. The legal regulation and development of shrimp farming has to be coordinated between two federal agencies, the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries (CONAPESCA), which is responsible for the regulation of aquaculture in water bodies of federal jurisdiction and the Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), which regulates the development of inland aquaculture by requesting environmental impact assessments.
The Federal Government through CONAPESCA recognizes the need for the aquaculture sector to sustainably grow and has allocated public resources to improve this sector through specific strategies, such as the National Program for Aquaculture Management to: (i) enable an orderly, sustainable and competitive aquaculture sector, and (ii) regulate and administer the sector, using processes and tools for the delimitation of aquaculture zones. Shrimp farming in Nayarit State illustrates the methodology used to demarcate and manage aquaculture zones based on the scoping of the aquaculture activity and the zone. It was carried out by the Aquaculture Health Committee of Nayarit State with federal funds. Zoning results are uploaded in a web spatial database to facilitate the regularization of farms through legal mechanisms.

Aquaculture Site Selection and Zoning in Oman (Dawood Suleiman Al-Yahyai)

The vision of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries (MAFW) is to develop aquaculture in a sustainable, competitive and environment-friendly basis that meets the needs of customers of high quality aquaculture products. Several features make Oman attractive to local and foreigner investors. These include long coastlines with diverse natural marine resources, world-class infrastructure, close proximity and easy access to export markets, attractive financial incentives, commitment of support from government authorities and well organized institutional and legislative frameworks.
The Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries carried out a detailed survey of the Omani coast at the beginning of the last decade. An atlas for suitable sites along the coast was prepared which includes oceanographic and environmental descriptions of the coast of Oman and information on suitable methods for aquaculture as well as the major constraints.
The sites for aquaculture projects were allocated in cooperation with the Ministry of Housing and the Ministry of Environment & Climate Affairs. A recent project was started by the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries to select suitable sites for marine cages in Musandam Governorate using GIS and remote sensing tools. This also allows the assessment of the carrying capacity of each site. The project will also develop a model for sustainable aquaculture development applicable to the other regions of Oman.

Mariculture Parks in the Philippines (Nelson Lopez and Patrick White)

The Government through the Bureau of Fisheries & Aquatic Resources promotes the development of mariculture zones and parks as a responsible and sustainable development option in coastal cage aquaculture.
The social objectives are to provide livelihood to local communities and contribute to food security. There are now more than 60 mariculture parks throughout the Philippines. The concept of the Mariculture Park (MP) is akin to an industrial estate. In a designated zone within municipal waters, aquaculture plots are leased to small- to medium-sized aquaculture farms.
Infrastructure (mooring systems, navigation lanes and docking areas), utilities, and technical services are provided by the government. The development process for setting up and operating a Mariculture Park follows a well-defined set of steps.
The main features of a Mariculture Park are: (i) Shared infrastructure—multiproduct onshore warehouse, cold storage and ice plants facility, service as well as ferry boats, communal mooring system; (ii) Shared services—availability of seeds and feeds supplier, cage fabricator and manpower services; (iii) Shared security—internal and external security; and (iv) Sustainability—well-selected sites for small-, medium- and large-scale investors. Other features are controlled maximum production and environmental monitoring.

Mariculture Parks in Turkey (Güzel Yücel Gier)

Turkish marine aquaculture has seen rapid growth along the Aegean coast since 2000. This case study focuses on mariculture parks in Gulluk Bay where 55 percent of total marine aquaculture production occurs. Conflict with other coastal zone stakeholders had spurred the Ministry of Environment and Urbanization (MEU) to issue new regulations. In 2008 new regulations for Gulluk Bay led to the definition of two mariculture zones.
These cover 20.8 percent and 0.45 percent of the area licensed for the cages on the Bay. This was done by a Turkish Inter-Ministerial Consortium, in cooperation with the Mugla Fish Farmers Association. Site selection and zoning addressed basic issues and were carried out through a participatory process among stakeholders, scientists and central government. This has subsequently proved to be a weak point in the whole process. The two mariculture zones were evaluated separately in Gulluk Bay. Two total zoning EIA reports were separately produced for the Bodrum zone and for the Milas zone.
Monitoring is done by government officers.
Aquaculture zoning, spatial planning, aquaculture management and risk mapping are among the most important issues for the success of aquaculture. They need to be carried out in accordance with sustainability and best practice guidelines. Turkey has recently focused on such issues and is trying to set guidelines which would enable true sustainability to take place.
The whole EIA process needs the estimation of carrying capacity of a new aquaculture potential area and harmonisation with the monitoring and management system to be used. 

Aquaculture Parks in Uganda (Nelly Isyagi, unable to attend)

Fisheries are Uganda’s third source of foreign exchange and contribute to the livelihoods of about 5.3 million people. To sustain economic growth arising from the sector an additional 300,000 tonnes/year of fish is required.
However, Uganda’s natural waters have reached their maximum sustainable yield. Large-scale commercial aquaculture is the only feasible option for achieving the additional production needed in the medium term.
Aquaculture production is from isolated small farms.
This makes it difficult to establish efficient production and marketing value chains. Increasing the number of such units would pose challenges for environmental management. The strategy is to produce large volumes of fish and related services from “Aquaculture Parks” located within designated high aquaculture potential areas using an ecosystems approach. The Government of Uganda has conducted broad studies to identify such potential areas. Findings suggest good potential in most parts of the country as well as for operating aquaculture parks.
Considering the level of investment and production objectives of Aquaculture Parks, for success and sustainability, it is crucial that they be established within appropriate frameworks. Actual spatial scoping, demarcation of ecosystem boundaries, selection of specific zones and sites based on natural resource capacity, and development of targeted management policies and plans for the aquaculture zones have yet to be done. Ecosystem characteristics will determine the location, number, size and appropriate operating systems of the parks.

Aquaculture Zoning, Site Selection and Area Management in Scottish Marine Finfish Production (Matthew Gubbins)

Scottish aquaculture production is dominated by Atlantic salmon of which it is the world’s third largest producer. Salmon farming has developed since the 1970s, and spatial management has become increasingly important to ensure sustainability, particularly for fish health and environmental protection. Area management involves collaboration between government and industry and both parties operate area management systems. Disease Management Areas (DMAs) are used by government to control notifiable disease, particularly ISA. They are defined using a simple model and current government policy is against new sites that would join DMAs.
Farm Management Areas (FMAs) are industry defined areas in which farms collaborate on management issues, including sea lice treatments. Sea lochs (small fjords) are assessed for carrying capacity and maximum biomass consent is limited to prevent environmental impacts arising from cumulative discharges. At a larger spatial scale large areas are reserved with no aquaculture, including the North and East coasts of Scotland, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where the most significant wild salmonid populations in Scotland are found. New farms are given development consent under Town and Country Planning by local authorities, taking into account views of all primary stakeholders and in accordance with established policies in Scotland’s National Marine Plan and any local plan. Standards are enforced by official inspectors working for the Fish Health Inspectorate and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and through industry codes of practice.