Northern Devon Aquaculture Centre Feasibility Study

Caroline Roberts

Aquaculture Common Interest Group, 15 April 2015

1

Project Introduction

North Devon Coast AONB initiative Northern Devon FLAG, Seafish, Devon and Severn IFCA funded FLAG strategy: Sustainable development of Northern Devon’s fishing

communities: Including through innovation and diversification Potential role for aquaculture?

2

Project Aims

Aim of project to scope:

The need and potential for Aquaculture Centre in Northern Devon – including local demand for services

Potential stakeholders in the commercial, research and environmental sectors

The optimal operational model, size and location Potential funding sources

3

Approach

Demand / needs analysis:

Project workshop Level and nature of interest and/or concerns

Wider consultation commercial, research and educational facilities Characterise current specialisms and facilities What type of centre and facilities would best enhance or compliment

current research and sustainable expansion? Option appraisal and SWOT analysis Review funding sources

4

Northern Devon

Northern Devon – long heritage of fishing Important role in employment and tourism Centres – Clovelly, Bideford, Appledore, Ilfracombe

5

Northern Devon

Wild capture fisheries Trawls – rays, squid, dover sole, plaice, turbot, brill, gurnard, cod,

haddock, dab, whiting, sea bass Pots – lobster, brown crab, spider crab, whelks Nets – herring Lines – seabass, mackerel, cod Dredges – scallops

Aquaculture Shellfish – Pacific oysters, mussels (small scale hand gathering) Finfish – rainbow trout, brown trout (freshwater farms), salmon

hatchery

6

Project Workshop

Discussion: Opportunities and constraints for aquaculture development in

Northern Devon What services and facilities required to support development?

Four main themes emerged:

Development of an information hub – ‘one stop shop’ Diversification opportunities

Including hatchery, land based RAS, seaweed Vocational training and education Conservation and restoration opportunities

7

Wider Consultation

Centre should promote new aquaculture developments suited to local

conditions Establish commercial scale demonstration projects Focus on technologies with proven potential to enhance UK aquaculture Focus on sustainable systems – low tech, local ‘backyard aquaculture’ Shellfish hatchery Commercial sector requirement for nutritional feed trials Vocational training Breeding and husbandry of endangered species

8

SWOT aquaculture Northern Devon

Strengths Weaknesses Local drivers for aquaculture development

in line with ethos of conservation designations

Expert knowledge of local environment (fishermen)

Existing shellfish production (expertise) Existing educational stakeholders Significant investment in estuary water

quality improvement Diversification opportunities Potential locations and facility Strong brand identity (Devon seafood) Rural area development (employment,

economic)

Highly designated area Physical conditions – challenging Water quality within estuary Lack of classified shellfish harvesting areas

for relaying Lack of production sites for vocational

training Lack of end product testing facilities Bureaucracy Geographical location e.g. transport links Long term viability (funding, investment)

9

SWOT aquaculture Northern Devon

Opportunities Threats EU and UK drivers for aquaculture

expansion EU and UK funding streams available Marine spatial planning (aquaculture

‘potential’) Promotion of exemplar aquaculture

practices in highly designated area Exploration of feasible cultivation

techniques in more exposed locations Demand for vocational training Improving water quality Provision of beneficial ecosystem services Interest in cultivation new species Interest in endangered species cultivation Reduction in pressure on wild capture

species

Lack of regional and national aquaculture strategy/plan

Bureaucracy (national) Public perception of aquaculture Environmental impacts (e.g. pollution,

biosecurity, disturbance protected features)

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The Aquaculture Centre

What should an Aquaculture Centre be?

Must be a commercial entity – to ensure long term viability

Should not be: Just a building or visitor centre General opinion – not a requirement for additional aquaculture-

related research facilities (competition, credentials)

11

Operational Models

Public facility ‘Anchored’ tenants (commercially viable activities to provide return on

investment) Develop centre incrementally (relate to industry needs and demand) e.g.

addition of training, research facilities ‘Cluster’ of initiatives / private interests

Does not require public funding Not a physical ‘Centre’ - would rely on collaboration e.g. to establish

‘network’, training etc. Virtual Centre (information hub)

Low cost option Not a physical ‘Centre’ - limited benefits to Northern Devon Who will set up and maintain?

12

Next steps

Draft report due end April 2015:

Option appraisal Operational models, Size, Locations

SWOT analysis

Final report due May 2015

Would welcome feedback

Thank you for your attention

Caroline Roberts croberts@abpmer.co.uk 023 8071 1857