2. IMPLEMENTATION OF AQUACULTURE SPATIAL PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT

2.1 Process

A process for aquaculture site selection and carrying capacity estimation within the framework of an ecosystem approach to aquaculture was initially elaborated by Ross et al. (2013). A comprehensive planning process should begin with the formation of an appropriate task team to evaluate the pros and cons of aquaculture and to create a roadmap for its sustainable development. The task team is usually comprised of government policy-makers and technical experts in aquaculture, business development and aquatic ecosystem management.

The first activity of the aquaculture task team is to undertake a national scoping exercise aimed at establishing objectives for aquaculture, reviewing relevant laws, identifying general areas that might be suitable for various types of aquaculture, establishing national priorities for ecosystem conservation and conversion, and determining who might be the relevant stakeholders to engage in decision-making. Scoping is often done within the context of a national aquaculture strategy or policy exercise and influences each subsequent step in the spatial management process.
Once scoping has identified aquaculture as a priority at the national level, detailed plans are elaborated for progressively smaller geographical units at the regional and local levels, as appropriate. The process of spatial planning usually consists of the following three steps:
(i) Aquaculture zoning: bringing together the criteria for locating aquaculture and other activities in order to define broad zones suitable for different activities or mixes of activities.
(ii) Site selection: identifying the most appropriate locations for individual farm development within zones.
(iii) Aquaculture management areas (AMAs): within zones, AMAs contain a number of individual farms that share a common water supply and/or are in such proximity that disease and water quality are best managed collectively rather than by individual farms.

An aquaculture zone can be all or part of any hydrological system that is at least partly suitable for aquaculture, whether it be the open ocean (normally within the exclusive economic zone), a bay, part of a river or estuary, or any inland waterbody (lake or dam). The creation of zones facilitates the integration of aquaculture activities into areas already being exploited by other users. The effectiveness of zoning depends upon its simplicity, clarity and degree of local support.
Site selection is the process by which the biophysical attributes of a prospective site are compared with the needs of cultured organisms and the proper functioning of aquaculture farms. Poor site selection is a major cause of failure in aquaculture development. This process is normally led by the private sector, local landowners and others seeking to embark on an aquaculture business venture.
Governments maintain control through clear regulations that define the process and requirements for site licencing.
As all farms within a constrained space contribute to nutrient loading, the spread of diseases and other impacts of aquaculture, some kind of collective management is often needed. AMAs are defined as shared waterbodies, or parts thereof, where all the aquaculture operators agree (coordinate and cooperate) to certain management practices or codes of conduct that act to minimize the overall impacts from their collective activities. Estimation and evaluation of the biological carrying capacity of zones, farm sites and AMAs, and biosecurity considerations are the baseline upon which allowable fish and farm density are based.
Once AMAs have been established with a clear management plan, a system for monitoring the plan is needed to allow for review and iterative adjustment as the need arises. Individual components of the plan such as biosecurity, social and environment measures will need to be periodically adjusted as technology and the local production and socio-economic context evolve.
A schematic diagram of the potential steps in the spatial planning and management process is presented in Figure 1.