Managing Ecosystem Interactions Across Differing Environments: Building Flexibility And Risk Assurance Into Environmental Management Strategies
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,078,729.00
Summary
This project addresses FRDC program 1 (Environment) priority 23. In order to double production by 2030 the Salmon industry in Tasmania must consider alternate production approaches and expansion into new areas. However, maintaining high environmental performance (a priority for both the industry and its regulators) requires an understanding of how farming in new areas might change environmental interactions. In order to ensure that management remains best practice, and farms continue to be ....This project addresses FRDC program 1 (Environment) priority 23. In order to double production by 2030 the Salmon industry in Tasmania must consider alternate production approaches and expansion into new areas. However, maintaining high environmental performance (a priority for both the industry and its regulators) requires an understanding of how farming in new areas might change environmental interactions. In order to ensure that management remains best practice, and farms continue to be efficient and sustainable, assessment of the local scale impact/ recovery dynamics and potential interactions with other resource users is required in newly developed farming environments and under different farming technologies. In addition understanding how farms interact with the various processes and ecosystems in the water-bodies where they occur and the various scales for those interactions (local, medium and broad-scale) will provide an important basis for establishing an effective strategy for system-wide management, including management of interactions with other users of the water-bodies. It is clear from discussions with various resource users (i.e. fish farmers and commercial and recreational fishers) that the perception of potential risks differs between Macquarie Harbour and the southern farming regions. In Macquarie Harbour a critical issue is whether the current on-farm monitoring (and local scale impact indicators are “fit for purpose” i.e. do they support sustainable management by providing an accurate understanding of sediment conditions. Whilst in the new farming areas in the southern regions (Lower Channel/ Storm Bay), although establishing the effectiveness of the local scale monitoring is important, the key concern is whether there may be adverse effects on reef health (i.e. off-site interactions) as a result of increased aquaculture activities. Therefore a key element of this study will be to provide a better assessment of the potential risk to reef systems from sediment deposition and nutrient dispersion from fish farms directly. Objectives: 1. Establish key recovery response principles and benthic condition criteria for all areas in which farming currently occurs – building on existing understanding to identify both generic and regionally specific performance criteria 2. Improve our understanding of sediment process interactions and recovery responses, in order to ensure that monitoring and management strategies are optimised for each growing region – a key objective will be relating the findings to the most important ecological and resource interactions of salmon farming in each region. 3. To evaluate the potential for interactions between local reef systems and salmon farming – determining the main risk factors, recommending risk appropriate monitoring and assessment approaches and identifying risk mitigation strategies where relevant. 4. To improve our understanding of how local scale (site based) environmental condition data, can integrate with local scale modelling to improve management outcomes – a key goal will be identifying how local scale understanding of sediment processes and benthic pelagic interactions can inform and be informed by regional modelling and management approaches. Read moreRead less
Storm Bay Observing System: Assessing The Performance Of Aquaculture Development
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$4,246,929.50
Summary
The expansion of the Tasmanian Salmonid Industry in new growing areas, such as Storm bay, is contingent on demonstrating that further development is done in a responsible and sustainable way. This is central to maintaining public confidence in the salmon industry. Demonstrating best practice in environmental sustainability requires that the environmental footprint of the industry is well understood and contained within acceptable levels. An environmental monitoring program that assesses the ....The expansion of the Tasmanian Salmonid Industry in new growing areas, such as Storm bay, is contingent on demonstrating that further development is done in a responsible and sustainable way. This is central to maintaining public confidence in the salmon industry. Demonstrating best practice in environmental sustainability requires that the environmental footprint of the industry is well understood and contained within acceptable levels. An environmental monitoring program that assesses the environmental performance of farming at both local and system wide scales will provide this understanding, enabling appropriate regulatory responses. The development and validation of a biogeochemical model that can estimate the natural systems capacity to assimilate salmonid derived nutrient inputs at both local and broader system scales provides the capacity to both understand current environmental conditions and forecast the environmental responses under alternate management responses. This combination of a reliable and “fit for purpose” environmental monitoring and modelling program will help meet the needs and expectations of a science based adaptive management framework necessary for the proposed development of salmonid farming in Storm Bay. Objectives: 1. Develop a robust monitoring program 2. Provide a comprehensive map of benthic habitats and bathymetry of the Storm Bay region and assessment of change at key focus areas 3. Develop and apply a lease scale model for assessing the environmental footprint of dissolved and particulate farm inputs 4. Assess the interactions between farming and the receiving environment 5. Evaluate and review the monitoring program Read moreRead less
Storm Bay Research Program Management, Governance And Extension
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$636,438.94
Summary
Proposed salmon aquaculture expansion in Storm Bay has created the Tasmanian State Government (PA and EPA) need for a suite of research to be undertaken by CSIRO and IMAS to assist planning and regulation. Given the complexity of the Storm Bay research and implications for Salmon planning and regulation, and necessary community communication, there is a need for ‘Storm Bay Project’ governance and communication support as follows:
1) A Project Manager, to be engaged by FRDC will require ....Proposed salmon aquaculture expansion in Storm Bay has created the Tasmanian State Government (PA and EPA) need for a suite of research to be undertaken by CSIRO and IMAS to assist planning and regulation. Given the complexity of the Storm Bay research and implications for Salmon planning and regulation, and necessary community communication, there is a need for ‘Storm Bay Project’ governance and communication support as follows:
1) A Project Manager, to be engaged by FRDC will require a 0.5 FTE role (to be reviewed 6 and 12 months for adequacy and need), will coordinate Project Governance (relating to the IMAS and CSIRO research suite) and provide direct reporting to the Steering Committee, against the agreed work plan on progress, achievements or challenges. The Project Manager will chair the various sub-committees, and manage consultants and communication releases to develop and ensure integration of monitoring and research, delivery of outcomes, and public reporting. The PM will also be responsible for coordinating engagement between the steering committee and independent governance committee. An operational in-direct cost will be needed for computer, stationary, catering and transport costs for the function on the Project Manager.
2) Communication Advisory Sub-committee support as required a) Consultant support is needed to create the Storm Bay Project communication strategy and communication products,
3) Community Reference Group Support as required a) Support for an independent convener is requested to create a Community Reference Group that will provide community input into the Storm Bay Project communication strategy b) A research evaluation of the Community Reference Group outputs is warranted to assess and improve community engagement and communication (Dr Alexander)
4) Tasmanian State Government see the need for the outputs of all 3-research projects to be independent externally reviewed and that the findings be-released into the public domain. Support for an external Independent Review Panel of the CSIRO and IMAS research suite outputs will be sought via a future project extension (proposal to be prepared by the Project Manager). Objectives: 1. Support Storm Bay Project communication strategy development, public communication and evaluation 2. Provide governance support to the Storm Bay Project 3. Develop a project extension in order to undertake an independent peer review of science outputs from this CSIRO and IMAS research suite Read moreRead less
Next Generation Decision Support Tools To Support Sustainable Aquaculture In Storm Bay
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$791,324.00
Summary
To expand into new coastal and offshore areas, the Tasmanian Salmon Industry needs to maintain the support of State Government and the Tasmanian community by clearly demonstrating responsible stewardship and sustainable use of the marine environment. For Government agencies to adequately assess the environmental implications of these developments, they need to understand the environmental footprint of the industry, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste loads, and any other environm ....To expand into new coastal and offshore areas, the Tasmanian Salmon Industry needs to maintain the support of State Government and the Tasmanian community by clearly demonstrating responsible stewardship and sustainable use of the marine environment. For Government agencies to adequately assess the environmental implications of these developments, they need to understand the environmental footprint of the industry, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste loads, and any other environmental risks associated with aquaculture operations. With this information State Government and Industry can demonstrate best practice in the strategic and sustainable expansion of aquaculture, minimise environmental impacts, and keep the Tasmanian community well informed.
In recent years, the utility of environmental models and decision support tools have been successfully demonstrated for the Huon Estuary and D’Entrecasteaux Channel. For example, the availability of a validated biogeochemical model for this region enabled the development of the marine ecological emulator for rapid assessment of aquaculture operations on water quality.
Expansion of salmon aquaculture into new regions, such as Storm Bay, now requires both geographical extension of these capabilities and more flexible and cost-effective implementation approaches to modelling. In particular there is a need to develop lease scale modelling to predict and assess near scale (lease/cage) effect of aquaculture development.
The proposed expansion of the capabilities and decisions support tools outlined in this project will assist the State Government and Industry to forecast the potential extent and nature of impacts of aquaculture operations on the marine environment at multiple scales (e.g. lease and broadscale) under a range of operational scenarios. Objectives: 1. Provide relocatable modelling capability that can supply enhanced resolution environmental information within Storm Bay. 2. To provide access to a public online decision support tool to assist with the management of waterborne contaminants and marine biosecurity within Storm Bay 3. To provide registered stakeholders with access to an online decision support tool to assist with the management of water quality in Storm Bay Read moreRead less