Overview of Tool-Box.

Impacts of European aquaculture

The environmental impacts of marine cage fin-fish culture are widely recognised. These impacts affect the environment either through nutrient enrichment from unconsumed feed or fish faeces, or through chemical pollution from medicines and anti-foulants, (other impacts : transference of disease, genetic impacts from escaping farmed fish and sustainability of feed supply are not covered by ECASA). Nutrient enrichment of the sediment underlying a fish farm cage can result in decreased biodiversity, which in some instances may take up to two years to recover after production ceases. Harmful algal blooms may also result due to nutrient enrichment .  

During the ECASA Field Campaign of 2006 14 study sites were investigated, covering the range of aquaculture methods and species grown throughout Europe. For each study site a report was written, in the style of an Environmental Statement, which describes what was investigated at each site in the form of an Environmental Impact Assessment. These Study Site Reports can be found at ECASA Study Site Overview.

A range of environmental indicators were tested during the Field Campaign. Full details on the indicators used can be found in the Indicators section, with additional information on the actual protocols followed in the field and subsequent laboratory analysis can be found in the Book of Protocols.

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food producing sectors, and currently contributes just under 40% to world supplies of fish and other aquatic organisms.  The benefits of this development are real and visible, both for producing countries (e.g. support for rural livelihoods, improved food security, export earnings) and for consumers in the form of lower prices.  Growing concern over the environmental impact of aquaculture, however, has prompted a search for a governance framework that can guarantee sustainability – that is, a financially viable aquaculture industry in which the environmental damage is minimised. Sustainability indicators are an important component of such a governance framework, but should also include some measure of the wider socio-economic costs and benefits of aquaculture. For more information on the socio-economic aspects of aquaculture follow this link.

The ecosystem approach and sustainability.

In 2002 the EU issued its strategy for the sustainable development of European aquaculture.  In its vision for the future of European aquaculture, the EU stresses that the industry must take an approach where farming technologies, socio-economics, natural resource use and governance are all integrated, so promoting sustainable development. This is an ecosystem approach, where the integrated management of land, water and natural resources promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way.  The ECASA project was created to inform on science and policy, and to enable the aquaculture industry to continue sustainably while not degrading the environment, by providing tools and guidance for assessing the impacts of aquaculture.

Assessing the impacts of European Aquaculture

To assess the environmental impacts of aquaculture, a sound understanding of the receiving environment is required. A fin-fish farm in a strongly tidal location will have a reduced benthic impact compared to one sited in an enclosed water body. Environmental managers need to be able to differentiate between the environmental properties of different locations, and the differing levels of enrichment and pollution that result from the various culture methods. The ECASA project aims to provide industry and regulators with a suite of tested tools, presented as this virtual Toolbox, to apply when assessing and predicting the environmental impacts of aquaculture. These tools have all undergone an comprehensive evaluation process. For more information on this visit the Science behind ECASA. The Tool-Box provides advice on the merits of the indicator set for a particular species/culture/location combination, on the recommended set of models, and guidance on the use of models. Follow these links for more on the indicators and models included in the ECASA Tool-box.

EIA is a systematic process that assesses the impact of a planned (or existing) development on the environment. It is an aid to decision making, the formulation of development actions and an instrument for sustainable development. Some European countries require EIA to be carried out at the planning stage, and will not consent or licence a farm until an EIA has been done and is deemed satisfactory. However, the EU directive on Environmental Impact Assessment, (EIA), has not made EIAs mandatory for aquaculture developments. Instead the EU have left it up to each member state to implement their own policies for EIA and aquaculture.

The ECASA Toolbox was tested throughout Europe, in a range of sites, farming different species using different culture methods. Follow this link to find out more information on the ECASA Field Campaign.The particular focus of the toolbox is to inform on effective and consistent EIA and aid site selection.

For each ECASA study site a different suite of indicators were investigated, depending on the prevailing site conditions and species farmed. The Study Site Reports, available to download as pdf files through the links from the home page,  contain comprehensive information on what was investigated at each site, and the protocols followed in sample collection and subsequent analysis.