IMPLEMENTATION OF BIVALVE OFFSHORE AQUACULTURE WITHIN A NATURAL PARK: REVIEW OF TOOLS FOR ASSESSING IMPACTS UNDER THE EU MARINE STRATEGY FRAMEWORK DIRECTIVE

The increasing demand for seafood has led to a dramatic expansion in aquaculture. However, there is an increasing need to evaluate the effect of this expansion on restricted coastal resources. The implementation of offshore aquaculture within a national park at Sagres (Portugal) is currently being evaluated both for detrimental and beneficial effects. Modelling approaches like DEPOMOD can be used to predict impacts on the benthos. Regular water quality monitoring is also important, for assessing environmental impacts and improving farm management and food safety. Remote sensing is one of the most cost effective approaches to providing an adequate spatial and temporal range of environmental data. At Sagres, the AQUA_USERS project (www.aqua-users.eu) is providing tools that link in situ measurements with remote sensing products to support decision making for aquaculture. For example, the WISP-3 spectrometer takes readings of chlorophyll derived from optical properties of the ocean and relates them to chlorophyll derived from satellite sensors. Integrating these tools to ensure aquaculture best practice, can contribute to the Good Environmental Status of the marine environment required by the European Union’s Marine Strategy Framework Directive.

Authors

Fragoso, B. D., University of Algarve, Portugal, fragoso.b@gmail.com

Icely, J. D., Sagremarisco Lda, Portugal, john.icely@gmail.com

Newton, A., NILU_IMPEC, Norway, anewton@ualg.pt

Details

Oral presentation

Session #:010
Date: 2/25/2015
Time: 09:30
Location: Press Room (Floor 2)

Presentation is given by student: Yes