Aquaculture Opportunities for Enclosed Marine Water Bodies – Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Case ...

116 Pages·2017·9.21 MB·English

by  Andrew Woolmer

Closing the Circle Report I: Aquaculture Opportunities for
Enclosed Marine Water Bodies – Tidal Lagoon Swansea
Bay Case Study
Seafish Report (SR) No.: SR704
ISBN No.: 978-1-911073-10-9

Aquafish Solutions Limited
Aquaculture and Fisheries Research, Consultancy & Training
CLIENT: Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd. Aquaculture Opportunities for Marine Enclosed Water Bodies
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TITLE: CLOSING THE CIRCLE REPORT I: AQUACULTURE OPPORTUNITIES FOR ENCLOSED MARINE

WATER BODIES – TIDAL LAGOON SWANSEA BAY CASE STUDY
FOR: MUMBLES OYSTER COMPANY LTD.
VERSION: FR1.0
AUTHORS STATED USING THE PCI APPROACH (AS DESCRIBED ON PAGE 3):
MARTIN SYVRET1; DR ANDREW WOOLMER2
1. Aquafish Solutions Limited, 62 Harrington Lane, Exeter, Devon EX4 8NS
E-mail: [email protected]
2. Salacia-Marine, 14 Rectory Road, Llangwm, Pembrokeshire SA624JA
E-mail: [email protected]

24 MARCH 2017

Suggested Citation:
Syvret, M., and Woolmer, A.P., 2017. Closing the Circle Report I: Aquaculture Opportunities for Enclosed Marine Water
Bodies – Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Case Study. For: Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd., Seafish Report (SR) No.: SR704, ISBN
No.: 978-1-911073-10-9. 117p.

AUTHORS NOTE AND DISCLAIMER
This study has been undertaken on behalf of the Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd. and is funded by the Strategic Investment
Programme (SIP) of the Sea Fish Industry Authority (Seafish). This study is intended to assist in the formulation of a
blueprint for development of mariculture in a tidal lagoon. The views expressed in this report are those of the Authors
and are not therefore necessarily representative of the Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd. or the Sea Fish Industry Authority.
The Authors as individuals or as Aquafish Solutions Limited and Salacia-Marine cannot be held responsible for any
consequences arising from the use of this Report.
CLIENT: Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd. Aquaculture Opportunities for Marine Enclosed Water Bodies
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PROJECT TEAM, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND AUTHORSHIP
Project Team: Listed in alphabetical order of surname;
Martin Syvret – Aquafish Solutions Ltd. Andrew Woolmer – Salacia-Marine
Acknowledgements:
The Project Team would like to thank and acknowledge the contribution made by Louise Strack; Development Manager
and other team members at Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay.
Authorship and Contributions*: Listed in order of preceding page using PCI (percentage-contribution–
indicated) approach to author sequencing. Where section contributions are numerically equal then Authors are placed
in alphabetical order by surname. No differentiation is made between primary or contributory authorship;
Martin Syvret - Primary Author of Section(s) 1, 3 to 5*; 7 to 10
Contributory Author to Section(s) 2
Andrew Woolmer - Primary Author of Section(s) 2 and 6
Contributory Author to Section(s) 5* and 10

*Section 5 also includes work by Dr Philip Kerrison and Dr Adam Hughes at SRSL.
RECORD OF STUDY DEVELOPMENT

Version Date Reason for Change Primary Author(s)
WD1.0 23 June 2016 Working Draft – Version 1.0 – ASL
Section 1 + Matrix
WD2.0 22 July 2016 Working Draft – Version 2.0 – ASL/SM
Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix
WD3.0 08 Working Draft – Version 3.0 – ASL/SM
November Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix
2016
FD1.0 15 December Final Draft – Version 1.0 – ASL/SM
2016 Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix + Exec. Summary
FD2.0 05 January Final Draft – Version 2.0 – ASL/SM
2017 Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix + Exec. Summary
FD3.0 13 January Final Draft – Version 3.0 – ASL/SM
2017 Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix + Exec. Summary
(incorporating feedback from Seafish)
FD4.0 28 February Final Draft – Version 4.0 – ASL/SM
2017 Sections 1 to 10 + Matrix + Exec. Summary
(incorporating further feedback from Seafish)
FD5.0 22 March Final Draft – Version 5.0 – ASL/SM
2017 As Ver FD4.0 + Spatial planning Section + feedback
from TLSB
FD6.0 23 March Final Draft – Version 6.0 – ASL/SM
2017 As Ver FD5.0 + feedback from TLSB
FR1.0 24 March Final Report – Version 1.0 – ASL/SM
2017
CLIENT: Mumbles Oyster Company Ltd. Aquaculture Opportunities for Marine Enclosed Water Bodies
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
A Table of Contents is shown below. Section titles and main sub-section headings are given by page number. A
list of Figure and Table Numbers follows the Table of Contents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................ 11
SECTION 1 – CO-LOCATION WITHIN MARINE ENCLOSED WATER BODIES ........................... 16
1.1 Co-location of Aquaculture and Marine Renewable Energy .................................................16
1.2 Aquaculture in Marine Enclosed Water Bodies .....................................................................16
1.2.1 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay - Aquaculture Blueprint and Hatchery Design .........................................16
1.2.2 Shellfish Hatchery and Spatting Ponds.............................................................................................17
1.2.3 Aquaculture Case Study ..................................................................................................................18
1.2.4 Swansea Bay and the Tidal Lagoon Environment .............................................................................19
1.2.5 Classifications and Shellfish Hygiene ...............................................................................................24
1.3 Summary ..............................................................................................................................26
SECTION 2 – COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SPECIES VS. TIDAL LAGOON ENVIRONMENT
............................................................................................................................................ 27
2.1 Matrix Overview ...................................................................................................................27
2.2 Summary of Matrix Findings .................................................................................................28
SECTION 3 – AQUACULTURE SPECIES AND CULTIVATION OPTIONS FOR THE SUBTIDAL ZONE
............................................................................................................................................ 30
3.1 Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas) Cultivation .......................................................................30
3.1.1 Overview and Background to Cultivation Activities in the UK ...........................................................30
3.1.2 Native/Non-Native Status ...............................................................................................................30
3.1.3 Seed Availability..............................................................................................................................31
3.1.4 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................31
3.2 Native Oyster (Ostrea edulis) Cultivation .............................................................................31
3.2.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................31
3.2.2 Native/Non-Native Status ...............................................................................................................32
3.2.3 Seed Availability..............................................................................................................................32
3.2.4 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................33
3.3 Mussel (Mytilus edulis) Cultivation .......................................................................................33
3.3.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................33
3.3.2 Native/Non-Native Status ...............................................................................................................34
3.3.3 Seed Availability..............................................................................................................................34
3.3.4 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................34
3.4 King Scallop (Pecten maximus) Cultivation ...........................................................................35
3.4.1 Overview ........................................................................................................................................35
3.4.2 Native/Non-Native Status ...............................................................................................................35
3.4.3 Seed Availability..............................................................................................................................35
3.4.4 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................36
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3.5 Suspended Shellfish Cultivation Techniques .........................................................................37
3.5.1 Site Selection and Location of Fixed Gear Cultivation .......................................................................37
3.5.2 Design Considerations for Suspended Shellfish Cultivation ..............................................................37
3.5.3 Suspended Cultivation Techniques for Oysters ................................................................................40
3.5.4 Suspended Cultivation Techniques for Mussels ...............................................................................41
3.5.5 Suspended Cultivation Techniques for Scallops ...............................................................................42
3.6 Seabed Shellfish Cultivation Techniques ...............................................................................44
3.6.1 Seabed Shellfish Cultivation Considerations ....................................................................................44
3.6.2 Subtidal Harvest of Seabed Cultivated Shellfish Using Eco-harvesters ..............................................44
3.6.3 Subtidal Harvest of Shellfish Using Dredges .....................................................................................45
3.6.4 Seabed Cultivation Techniques for Scallops .....................................................................................47
SECTION 4 – AQUACULTURE SPECIES AND CULTIVATION OPTIONS FOR THE INTERTIDAL
ZONE ................................................................................................................................... 48
4.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................48
4.2 Native Clam (Ruditapes decussatus) .....................................................................................48
4.2.1 Biology & Environmental Requirements ..........................................................................................48
4.2.2 Cultivation Techniques ....................................................................................................................48
4.2.3 Harvesting ......................................................................................................................................50
4.2.4 Equipment ......................................................................................................................................51
4.2.5 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................51
4.3 Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea gigas) ........................................................................................51
4.3.1 Biology & Environmental Requirements ..........................................................................................52
4.3.2 Cultivation Techniques ....................................................................................................................52
4.3.3 Equipment ......................................................................................................................................55
4.3.4 Harvesting ......................................................................................................................................55
4.3.5 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................55
4.4 Native Oysters (Ostrea edulis) ..............................................................................................56
4.4.1 Biology & Environmental Requirements ..........................................................................................56
4.4.2 Cultivation Techniques ....................................................................................................................56
4.4.3 Equipment ......................................................................................................................................58
4.4.4 Harvest ...........................................................................................................................................58
4.4.5 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................59
4.5 Cockles (Cerastoderma edule) ..............................................................................................59
4.5.1 Biology & Environmental Requirements ..........................................................................................59
4.5.2 Cultivation Techniques ....................................................................................................................59
4.5.3 Equipment ......................................................................................................................................60
4.5.4 Harvest ...........................................................................................................................................60
4.5.5 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................60
4.6 Mussels (Mytilus edulis) .......................................................................................................60
4.6.1 Biology & Environmental Requirements ..........................................................................................60
4.6.2 Cultivation Techniques ....................................................................................................................60
4.6.3 Equipment ......................................................................................................................................61
4.6.4 Harvest ...........................................................................................................................................61
4.6.5 Suitability for Cultivation within the Proposed Lagoon.....................................................................61
SECTION 5 – MACROALGAE / SEAWEED CULTIVATION OPTIONS FOR TIDAL LAGOONS ..... 62
5.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................62
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5.2 Uses of Macroalgae / Seaweeds ...........................................................................................62
5.3 Production Levels and Techniques ........................................................................................62
5.4 Economics and Markets ........................................................................................................64
5.5 Overview of Macroalgal Cultivation Potential within the Proposed Lagoon .........................66
5.6 Assessment of Intertidal Area ...............................................................................................66
5.6.1 Suitability for Macroalgae / Seaweed Cultivation.............................................................................66
5.6.2 Conclusions Regarding Intertidal Area .............................................................................................67
5.7 Assessment of Subtidal Area ................................................................................................67
5.7.1 Suitability for Macroalgae / Seaweed Cultivation.............................................................................67
5.7.2 Conclusions Regarding Subtidal Area ...............................................................................................68
5.8 Assessment of Breakwater Site ............................................................................................68
5.8.1 Suitability for Macroalgae / Seaweed Cultivation.............................................................................68
5.8.2 Conclusions Regarding Breakwater .................................................................................................69
5.9 Knowledge Gaps ...................................................................................................................69
SECTION 6 – SPATIAL PLANNING TOOLS TO SUPPORT AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT ...... 70
6.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................70
6.2 Spatial Analysis Tools............................................................................................................70
6.2.1 Examples of Existing Spatial Tools for Aquaculture ..........................................................................70
6.3 Site Level Spatial Planning Exercise ......................................................................................78
6.3.1 Approach and Method ....................................................................................................................78
6.3.2 Spatial Analysis Case Studies ...........................................................................................................79
6.4 Discussion .............................................................................................................................81
SECTION 7 – PRODUCTION SCENARIOS AND COSTS ............................................................ 83
7.1 Introduction ...............................................................................................................................83
7.2 Production Scenario and Capital Costs – Intertidal Oyster Cultivation .................................83
7.3 Production Scenario and Capital Costs - Subtidal Oyster Cultivation ....................................84
7.3.1 Seabed Cultivation ..........................................................................................................................84
7.3.2 Suspended Cultivation ....................................................................................................................84
7.4 Production Scenario and Capital Costs – Intertidal Native Clam Cultivation .........................84
7.4.1 Intertidal Ranching..........................................................................................................................84
7.5 Production Scenario and Capital Costs – Subtidal Mussel Cultivation ..................................85
7.6 Production Scenario and Capital Costs – Subtidal Scallop Cultivation ..................................85
7.7 Capital and Operating Costs - Subtidal Cultivation of Macroalgae ........................................85
SECTION 8 – PRODUCTION LEVELS AND MARKETS .............................................................. 87
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8.1 Introduction ..........................................................................................................................87
8.2 Pacific Oysters ......................................................................................................................88
8.2.1 Farmed Production Levels and Values .............................................................................................88
8.2.2 Markets ..........................................................................................................................................89
8.3 Native Oysters ......................................................................................................................89
8.3.1 Farmed Production Levels and Values .............................................................................................89
8.3.2 Market ...........................................................................................................................................90
8.4 Mussels .................................................................................................................................91
8.4.1 Farmed Production Levels and Values .............................................................................................91
8.4.2 Markets ..........................................................................................................................................92
8.5 Scallops .................................................................................................................................92
8.5.1 Farmed Production Levels ...............................................................................................................92
8.5.2 Markets ..........................................................................................................................................92
8.6 Native Clams .........................................................................................................................93
8.6.1 Farmed Production Levels ...............................................................................................................93
8.6.2 Markets ..........................................................................................................................................93
8.7 Cockles ..................................................................................................................................93
8.7.1 Wild Fishery Production Levels ........................................................................................................93
8.8 Macroalgae / Seaweeds ........................................................................................................93
8.8.1 Farmed Production Levels ...............................................................................................................93
8.8.2 Markets ..........................................................................................................................................93
SECTION 9 – ‘AQUACULTURE PARKS’ A POTENTIAL BLUEPRINT FOR MARICULTURE IN TIDAL
LAGOONS ............................................................................................................................ 95
9.1 Co-location of Aquaculture and Marine Renewable Energy .................................................95
9.2 Benefits and Perceived Drawbacks of Co-location ................................................................96
9.3 Marine Licensing of Mariculture Activities in Welsh Waters.................................................97
9.4 Aquaculture Parks – Potential Blueprint for Mariculture in Tidal Lagoons .........................100
9.4.1 Aquaculture Park Concept............................................................................................................. 100
9.4.2 Marine Licensing and Aquaculture Parks ....................................................................................... 100
9.4.3 Aquaculture Park Service Provision ............................................................................................... 101
9.5 Conclusions .........................................................................................................................102
SECTION 10 – DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS ................................................................ 103
10.1 Introduction ...........................................................................................................................103
10.2 Environment .......................................................................................................................103
10.3 Macroalgae Cultivation .......................................................................................................103
10.4 Bivalve Cultivation ..............................................................................................................104
10.5 Spatial Planning Tools for Aquaculture ...............................................................................104
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10.6 Aquaculture Parks...............................................................................................................105
REFERENCES ...................................................................................................................... 106
APPENDIX 1 – MATRIX....................................................................................................... 111
APPENDIX 2 – OPERATIONAL PLANNING AND INFRASTRUCTURE – GENERAL
CONSIDERATIONS .............................................................................................................. 112
Introduction ...................................................................................................................................112
Commencement of Mariculture Activities ......................................................................................112
Required Environmental Conditions and Dredging Considerations ................................................112
Spatial Footprints for Mariculture Operations ...............................................................................113
Access Requirements .....................................................................................................................113
Processing Facility Requirements ...................................................................................................115
Buildings and Support Facilities ......................................................................................................115
Staffing ...........................................................................................................................................116
Other Design Considerations ..........................................................................................................116

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LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Proposed location of the tidal lagoon within Swansea Bay ..........................................................17
Figure 2: Artist’s impression of the lagoon seawall and amenities following construction.........................18
Figure 3: Predicted tidal extremes at high and low water following construction of the lagoon .................19
Figure 4: Difference in maximum flood tide flow speed within the lagoon ...................................................20
Figure 5: Water flow rates on an ebb tide following lagoon construction ....................................................20
Figure 6: Residual tidal flow following lagoon construction ........................................................................21
Figure 7: Predicted wave heights outside and within the proposed lagoon .................................................21
Figure 8: Seabed sediment distribution for the area within Swansea Bay proposed for a tidal lagoon ......22
Figure 9: Modelling of mud transport following lagoon construction ..........................................................22
Figure 10: Waste water discharges within Swansea Bay ..............................................................................24
Figure 11: Modelling of 95 percentile E. coli conc.n with continuous storm discharge (WwTW only) .........25
Figure 12: Modelling of Dissolved Oxygen levels before and after lagoon construction .............................25
Figure 13: Summary of aquaculture option technical and environmental feasibility ...................................29
Figure 14: Intertidally grown Pacific oysters .................................................................................................30
Figure 15: Wild caught native oyster .............................................................................................................32
Figure 16: The blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) ..................................................................................................33
Figure 17: Collection of seabed mussel using a light dredge and mussel spat on a collector rope. ...........34
Figure 18: King scallops on the seabed ........................................................................................................35
Figure 19: Scallop spat collector bags ready to be dispatched ....................................................................36
Figure 20: Diagrammatic representation of possible offshore shellfish aquaculture installations..............38
Figure 21: Individual offshore long-line system ............................................................................................38
Figure 22: Screw anchor installation vessel and example of a screw anchor ..............................................39
Figure 23: AquaTray system being used in offshore suspended culture of Pacific oysters ........................40
Figure 24: Five-tiered lantern net used for open water oyster culture. .........................................................41
Figure 25: Images from current SW England-based nearshore rope-mussel cultivation operations ..........42
Figure 26: Individual rope mussel dropper and continuous mussel loop ....................................................42
Figure 27: Schematic of current scallop cultivation techniques...................................................................43
Figure 28: Eco-harvester operating on a south coast site ............................................................................44
Figure 29: Traditional hand-hauled native oyster dredge from the River Fal ...............................................45
Figure 30: Heavy dredges used in shellfish harvesting ................................................................................46
Figure 31: Oyster tongs .................................................................................................................................46
Figure 32: Cultivated clams ..........................................................................................................................48
Figure 33: Clam cultivation under predator netting .....................................................................................49
Figure 34: Elevator dredge shown harvesting clams ...................................................................................50
Figure 35: Mechanised methods of clam harvesting ...................................................................................50
Figure 36: Intertidally grown Pacific oysters .................................................................................................51
Figure 37: Cultivation on trestles – French Poche system (top) vs. ORTAC staple (lower) .........................52
Figure 38: Intertidal fixed long-line cultivation of oysters ............................................................................53
Figure 39: Pacific oyster cultivation in managed parcs ................................................................................53
Figure 40: French chaland aquaculture barges.............................................................................................54
Figure 41: Label Rouge fine de claire oyster ................................................................................................54
Figure 42: Hatchery produced native oyster seed (centre) shown alongside Pacific oyster seed ..............56
Figure 43: Intertidal cultivation of native oysters using the ORTAC system ................................................57
Figure 44: Seabed vs. intertidal cultivation of native oysters using the ORTAC system .............................57
Figure 45: Cultivation of native oysters using the Microreef system ...........................................................58
Figure 46: Wild caught cockles, Cerastoderma edule ...................................................................................59
Figure 47: Bouchot poles with mussels attached ........................................................................................61
Figure 48: Offshore-ring system for macroalgae culture shown with fully grown Laminaria saccharina ...63
Figure 49: Schematic of the AWI offshore-ring macroalgal culture system .................................................63
Figure 50: Ecofys macroalgae system shown at launch and on-site in Dutch waters .................................64
Figure 51: Possible design for the tidal breakwater of TLSB ........................................................................66
Figure 52: Intertidal Porphyra farming in Japan ...........................................................................................67
Figure 53: An example of the MMO/MPC rope mussel spatial model for the SE marine plan area ..............71
Figure 54: An example of the infrastructure and planning constraints in the South Marine Plan Areas for
rope grown bivalve shellfish culture .............................................................................................................72
Figure 55. An example of the Welsh rope mussel spatial model for the Welsh Marine Plan Area ...............73
Figure 56. An example of the infrastructure and planning constraints in the Welsh Marine Plan Areas for
rope grown bivalve shellfish culture .............................................................................................................74
Figure 57. A screenshot of the Welsh Marine Planning Portal displaying the extent of areas considered to
be suitable for a suite of aquaculture methods .............................................................................................76
Figure 58. Welsh suspended shellfish aquaculture model spatial model for the Welsh Marine Plan Area .77
Figure 59. Strategic Resource Area for suspended shellfish culture after application of constraints ........78
Figure 60. Example of SQL query used in analysis .......................................................................................79
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Figure 61. Modelled output showing where suspended rope mussel cultivation may be feasible in the
Milford Haven Waterway ................................................................................................................................80
Figure 62. Modelled output showing where rope Laminaria farming may be feasible in the Milford Haven
Waterway .......................................................................................................................................................80
Figure 63. Locations of large vessel anchorages and recreational moorings overlaid on suspended seaweed
potential areas ...............................................................................................................................................81
Figure 64: Production and value of UK aquaculture 2012 to 2014 ................................................................87
Figure 66: Time series of UK Pacific oyster production (tonnage), split by nation where reported ............88
Figure 67: Time series of UK mussel production (tonnage), split by nation where reported .......................91

LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Estimated cost (€) for one 100 m long-line and one 100 m long-line + V-droppers ........................86
Table 2: Make-up of the cost price (€/kg FW) for a seaweed farm with 100 linear long-lines .......................86
Table 3: UK farmed production for Pacific oysters in 2012...........................................................................88
Table 4: UK farmed production for native oysters in 2012 ............................................................................89
Table 5: UK farmed production for mussels in 2012 .....................................................................................91
Table 6: Marine Aquaculture Licensing/Permissions ....................................................................................98

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