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Northern Devon Aquaculture Centre Feasibility Study Caroline Roberts Aquaculture Common Interest Group, 15 April 2015
Northern Devon Aquaculture Centre Feasibility Study
Caroline Roberts
Aquaculture Common Interest Group, 15 April 2015
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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?
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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
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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
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Northern Devon
Northern Devon – long heritage of fishing Important role in employment and tourism Centres – Clovelly, Bideford, Appledore, Ilfracombe
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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
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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
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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
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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)
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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)
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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?
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Next steps
Draft report due end April 2015:
Option appraisal Operational models, Size, Locations
SWOT analysis
Final report due May 2015
Would welcome feedback
