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
Tactical Research Fund: Establishing Regional Indicators Of Social Sustainability In The Tasmanian Aquaculture Industry - A Pilot Study
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$55,000.00
Summary
Tasmanian government, communities and industry recognise that a key to increasing aquaculture’s positive impact on regional communities in Tasmania is continued access to shared coastal and marine resources.
The existing aquaculture planning system delivers social licence by including the community in the process that examines the pros and cons of development in their region. Despite this, future opportunities for linkages and collaborative partnerships between industry and the communi ....Tasmanian government, communities and industry recognise that a key to increasing aquaculture’s positive impact on regional communities in Tasmania is continued access to shared coastal and marine resources.
The existing aquaculture planning system delivers social licence by including the community in the process that examines the pros and cons of development in their region. Despite this, future opportunities for linkages and collaborative partnerships between industry and the community are less well understood.
Critical to building and maintaining a “social license to operate” are robust and collaborative partnerships between industry and the communities in which it operates. Such partnerships need to be structured to allow meaningful dialogue aimed at increasing the positive impacts of aquaculture development to the community as a whole, balanced against the potential costs.
Community perceptions of aquaculture vary widely. The challenge for planners and the industry is to understand regional perceptions in order to develop policies and approaches that respond to community concerns, improve community understandings and bolster the recognition and acceptance of this sector as a valuable community member.
Specifically, industry and policy makers need to understand the social and economic profiles of specific regions as well as community perceptions of the industry, as the foundation for designing a community engagement strategy that will: • establish a sound platform of social understandings and values from which the industry can develop its business case, and • maximise the benefit communities derive from sustainable aquaculture development.
This project has been designed as a pilot study to test methodology and to deliver outputs that will contribute to the needs mentioned above, thereby helping to increase public good outcomes from marine farming in Tasmania.
Objectives: 1. A recommendation of social return on investment (SRoI) metrics that can be incorporated into assessment of aquaculture development and activities 2. An understanding of community perceptions of aquaculture in 2 aquaculture regions in Tasmania (e.g. South East Tasmania, North West Tasmania) 3. An understanding of demographic and social infrastructure for each study region 4. An analysis of the impact of aquaculture development on relevant social indicators for each region 5. A community consultation and engagement strategy that could be adopted by industry for each aquaculture region 6. Recommendations for how similar projects could be delivered in other regions in Australia 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
Clarifying The Relationship Between Salmon Farm Nutrient Loads And Changes In Macroalgal Community Structure/ Distribution (Existing Student Support)
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$44,929.56
Summary
This project provides research support for 2 PhD students - enabling them to target their studies to issues relevant to the local salmon farming industry in particular the need for research on “Nutrient Production” identified in TSGA research priorities (2011). Growth of salmon farming in SE Tasmania is currently limited by a feed input cap. This has arisen as a result of concerns that increased nutrients associated with salmon farming may be affecting local water quality. In addition there ....This project provides research support for 2 PhD students - enabling them to target their studies to issues relevant to the local salmon farming industry in particular the need for research on “Nutrient Production” identified in TSGA research priorities (2011). Growth of salmon farming in SE Tasmania is currently limited by a feed input cap. This has arisen as a result of concerns that increased nutrients associated with salmon farming may be affecting local water quality. In addition there have been anecdotal reports that changes in macroalgal community structure, and in particular proliferation of nuisance algae species (i.e. Ulva), are related to the expansion of local salmon farming operations. These PhD projects in combination will specifically evaluate the response of macroalgal communities to changing nutrient and environmental conditions and the implications of this for local and system wide nutrient load management. Scott Hadley is looking to evaluate the potential to mitigate/ offset nutrient loads using target species deployment and will look at testing scenarios in a model environment to establish spatial and temporal optima for such mitigation strategies. Whilst Luis Henriquez aims to better define the effects of changing nutrient regimes on local macroalgal communities and to measure differences in nutrient assimilation capacity of key species under differing environmental conditions. The combined research of these students will provide a much better understanding of the driving factors behind potential "hotspots" in estuarine systems, the likely effects of these on macroalgal communities and the potential for natural and managed nutrient offsets. Objectives: 1. Clarify the effect of nutrient changes on key macroalgal species under a variety of different environmental conditions 2. Characterise macroalgal communities in potential "hotspots" and identify key species 3. Describe the influence of nutrients, natural and anthropogenic, in potential "hotspots" by synthesising the findings of the empirical and modelling studies. 4. Make recommendations as to cost effectiveness of alternate options for nutrient mitigation based on all available data. Read moreRead less
Atlantic Salmon Aquaculture Subprogram: Forecasting Ocean Temperatures For Salmon At The Farm Site
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$45,000.00
Summary
This proposal is in response to requests from salmon companies to provide short-term ocean forecasts for Tasmanian farm sites. With this information, they can plan operations in the upcoming months, in particular stocking rates, disease treatments, and staffing levels for cage maintenance. Objectives: 1. Generate site specific seasonal water temperature statistical forecasts for three nominated farm sites. 2. Generate and test the skill of dynamical regional ocean forecasts ....This proposal is in response to requests from salmon companies to provide short-term ocean forecasts for Tasmanian farm sites. With this information, they can plan operations in the upcoming months, in particular stocking rates, disease treatments, and staffing levels for cage maintenance. Objectives: 1. Generate site specific seasonal water temperature statistical forecasts for three nominated farm sites. 2. Generate and test the skill of dynamical regional ocean forecasts using the BOM seasonal prediction model (POAMA) 3. Undertake cost-benefit analysis of the value of these short-term predictions for the salmon industry Read moreRead less
Storm Bay Biogeochemical Modelling & Information System: Supporting Sustainable Aquaculture Expansion In Tasmania
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$1,680,761.25
Summary
For the Tasmanian Salmon Industry to expand into new coastal and offshore areas it needs to demonstrate responsible stewardship and sustainable use of natural resources to maintain the support of Government agencies and the Tasmanian community. For Government agencies to assess the environmental implications of the Salmon Industry they need to understand the environmental footprint of the industry, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste loads, vulnerable locations where impacts mig ....For the Tasmanian Salmon Industry to expand into new coastal and offshore areas it needs to demonstrate responsible stewardship and sustainable use of natural resources to maintain the support of Government agencies and the Tasmanian community. For Government agencies to assess the environmental implications of the Salmon Industry they need to understand the environmental footprint of the industry, the capacity of the environment to assimilate waste loads, vulnerable locations where impacts might be foreseen, suitable locations and times to monitor change, possible future environmental trajectories under various management scenarios, and appropriate impact mitigation strategies. With this information the State Government and Industry can demonstrate best practice in the strategic and sustainable expansion of farm sites, minimise environmental impacts and keep the Tasmanian community well informed.
An information system is required that can report and compare current water quality conditions from models and observations, provide short-term forecasts, analysis of scenario projections of plausible future conditions for planning purposes and link to decision support tools to optimise management response and monitoring programs. The modelling and information system needs to have the capability for future deployment in multiple sub-regions of interest around Tasmania. This requires a downscaling approach where high-resolution local models can be rapidly deployed within a larger scale regional model encompassing the whole of Southeast Australia.
One region with an urgent need for such a modelling and information system is Storm Bay where knowledge gaps in hydrodynamic circulation, nutrient sources and transformations, the assimilative capacity of the environment and the footprint of proposed farms, currently limit responsible industry expansion and governance.
Objectives: 1. To evaluate the performance of the existing hydrodynamic model of Storm Bay 2. To characterise the primary sources of nutrients into Storm Bay from ocean currents, sediment resuspension, river inputs. 3. To deliver a validated model of water quality in Storm Bay suitable for assessing future salmon farm expansion. 4. To provide an information system comprising model results, observations and synthesis analyses, with links to parallel projects (e.g. monitoring program, decision support tools, seasonal predictions). 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
INFORMD Stage 2: Risk-based Tools Supporting Consultation, Planning And Adaptive Management For Aquaculture And Other Multiple-uses Of The Coastal Waters Of Southern Tasmania
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$750,000.00
Summary
A range of human activities influence water quality and other marine environmental values in southern Tasmania. For example, cage based salmon farming is currently restricted to the Huon Estuary, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Tasman Peninsula, with other activities in these waters having the potential to be affected by, or have an effect on, aquaculture (e.g. industrial processes, urban development, municipal services, fisheries, recreation, tourism). Given the multi-user nature of the marine envi ....A range of human activities influence water quality and other marine environmental values in southern Tasmania. For example, cage based salmon farming is currently restricted to the Huon Estuary, D’Entrecasteaux Channel and Tasman Peninsula, with other activities in these waters having the potential to be affected by, or have an effect on, aquaculture (e.g. industrial processes, urban development, municipal services, fisheries, recreation, tourism). Given the multi-user nature of the marine environment, it is important to recognise the diverse needs and expectations of the broader community when identifying values and evaluating trade-offs in the system as a whole. For example, water quality issues such as eutrophication and nuisance algae are important to both the aquaculture industry and the wider community, while issues such as public access, views and maintenance of recreational assets may be of particular concern to local communities. There is an urgent need to develop and apply innovative tools based on the best available scientific knowledge (e.g. INFORMD) to support consultation, planning and management of aquaculture and other uses of southern Tasmanian coastal waters. Objectives: 1. For the marine environment of southern Tasmania, characterise key environmental, social and economic values and aspirations from industry, government and community perspectives. 2. Relate these values to measurable indicators based on understanding of key biophysical and socio-economic processes. 3. Develop a framework to support spatial risk assessment for planning of future development within the system, with an initial focus on aquaculture leases. 4. Develop a framework for evaluating spatial risk management strategies, with an initial focus on managing aquaculture leases. 5. Integrate the planning framework (objective 3) and risk management framework (objective 4) into an online tool accessible to key stakeholders. Read moreRead less
Predicting Marine Currents, Nutrients And Plankton In The Coastal Waters Of South Eastern Tasmania In Response To Changing Weather Patterns
Funder
Fisheries Research and Development Corporation
Funding Amount
$339,224.47
Summary
The salmonid aquaculture industry is worth about $400 million to the Tasmanian economy and directly employs over 1200 people. This industry has plans to double production by 2030, which will require finding new localities for farms that are conducive to large scale production. Storm Bay has been identified as a potential growth area and baseline environmental data are essential to inform site selection and for future assessments of any effects of salmon production on the Storm Bay environment, i ....The salmonid aquaculture industry is worth about $400 million to the Tasmanian economy and directly employs over 1200 people. This industry has plans to double production by 2030, which will require finding new localities for farms that are conducive to large scale production. Storm Bay has been identified as a potential growth area and baseline environmental data are essential to inform site selection and for future assessments of any effects of salmon production on the Storm Bay environment, i.e. ensuring the industry is sustainable. Concomitant with this development is the need to establish social acceptability and to meet public expectations of a sustainable industry; this project will provide the baseline data necessary to support these requirements.
Information to be provided by this project on changing environmental conditions such as temperature, salinity and nutrients, and concentrations of planktonic organisms harmful to salmon production, such as HABs and jellyfish, which are related to changing weather patterns and current flows, are also very important to farm management, especially to risk assessments underpinning Decision Support Systems. Specifically, the project will ensure a thorough understanding of how major water masses interact in Storm Bay to influence nutrient flux, algal dynamics and responses of key plankton, including HABs and jellyfish.
Objectives: 1. Build on available data to establish baseline environmental conditions in southeastern Tasmanian coastal waters to support informed expansion of finfish farming in this region. 2. Enhance risk assessments underpinning Decision Support Systems for effects of changing weather and current patterns on water temperature, nutrients and plankton, especially in relation to HABs and gelatinous zooplankton. 3. Trial and establish a screening program for Neoparamoeba perurans, the causative agent of AGD. 4. Obtain measurements of primary productivity in Storm Bay and link to environmental drivers. 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