The Department of Fisheries is inviting input from the public on the issues discussed in this report - Draft Aquaculture Plan for Exmouth Bay. I would like to make the following comments on the draft Aquaculture Plan for Exmouth Bay.
INTRODUCTION
- S IGNIFICANT F EATURES OF E XMOUTH G ULF
- P URPOSE OF THE DRAFT PLAN
- A REA COVERED BY THE PLAN
- A PPROACH AND METHOD
- Approach
- Method
Public consultation which included a meeting in Exmouth and face-to-face discussions with key stakeholders. Consideration of potential environmental impacts and their management from aquaculture production systems likely in Exmouth Bay.
PHYSICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND SOCIAL FEATURES OF EXMOUTH
- P HYSICAL FEATURES
- Geomorphology
- Climate
- Oceanography and water quality
- B IOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
- Terrestrial
- Marine
- S OCIAL FEATURES
- Historic shipwrecks
- Other historic sites
- C ONSERVATION IMPORTANCE OF E XMOUTH G ULF
A large belt of mangroves occurs on the eastern side of the Gulf and on parts of the southern shore in the intertidal sand/mud flats. Many of the islands in Exmouth Bay are surrounded by shallow subtidal to intertidal limestone platforms that support coral outcrops.
OTHER HUMAN USES OF EXMOUTH GULF
- C OMMERCIAL FISHING
- P EARLING AND AQUACULTURE
- R ECREATIONAL FISHING
- T OURISM
- M INING , PETROLEUM AND MINERALS
- P OTENTIAL FUTURE USES
Shore-based fishing and netting occurs along most of the western side of the Bay, where the shore is accessible to the public. The Temporary Reserve on the east side of the Bay is for limestone extraction and on the west side is for salt production (Figure 5).
CONSTRAINTS ON AQUACULTURAL OPERATION IN EXMOUTH
- E NVIRONMENTAL CONSTRAINTS
- C LIMATIC CONSTRAINTS
- O PERATIONAL CONSTRAINTS
- C ONFLICTING USE OF RESOURCES
- Basic principles
- The compatibility of aquaculture with existing resource uses
- D EPARTMENT OF F ISHERIES
- Fisheries Legislation
- Gascoyne Aquaculture Development Plan
- Translocation policy
- G ASCOYNE D EVELOPMENT C OMMISSION
- WA P LANNING C OMMISSION
- Exmouth-Learmonth (North West Cape) Structure Plan
- E NVIRONMENT P ROTECTION A UTHORITY
- EPA Draft Guidance Note 29: Benthic Primary Producer Habitat Protection
- Draft Environmental Protection (WA Marine Waters) Policy
- EPA Guidance Note 34
- D EPARTMENT OF C ONSERVATION AND L AND M ANAGEMENT (CALM)
- C OMMONWEALTH L EGISLATION
- Ningaloo Marine Park Management Plan (1989)
Protect and manage the south and east side of Exmouth Bay as a Marine Park (CALM, FWA, GDC). The guidance note details tools for assessing the impacts associated with aquaculture development on the loss of primary producer habitat areas.
THE EXMOUTH GULF DRAFT AQUACULTURE PLAN
O BJECTIVE
U NDERLYING ASSUMPTIONS
S PECIES SUITABLE FOR AQUACULTURE IN E XMOUTH G ULF
- Species selection criteria
- Marketing
- Culture technology
- Production efficiency
- Commercial viability
- Species with aquaculture potential in Exmouth Gulf
- Marine finfish
- Pelagic fishes
- Reef fishes
- Demersal and benthic species
- Aquarium fishes
- Tuna species
- Marine shellfish
- Black tiger prawn
- Artemia
- Tropical abalone
- Trepang (Beche de mer)
- Mud crab
- Giant clam
- Edible oyster
- Excluded species
The market prospects, production efficiency and commercial viability of the species are unknown under Australian conditions but may be marginal in Exmouth Gulf. The commercial viability of the aquaculture of southern bluefin and yellowfin tuna in Exmouth Gulf is considered promising. The production efficiency and commercial viability of the species under Australian conditions is well known.
The production efficiency and commercial viability of the species under conditions prevailing in the Gulf has yet to be determined. The market prospects are excellent and all aspects of the production of the species are known.
P RODUCTION SYSTEMS SUITABLE FOR E XMOUTH G ULF
- Onshore production systems
- Location and water type
- Culture units
- Location and water type
- Culture units
- Water flow
- Intensity
- Scale
- Integration
From a technical point of view, terrestrial systems can be located in coastal terrestrial areas of Exmouth Bay in areas that meet certain physical, biological, social and economic criteria, such as topography, water quality and infrastructure. Aquaculture developments in the coastal areas of Exmouth Bay are likely to occupy small, medium and large areas. Based on current technology, by definition all offshore production systems in Exmouth Gulf would be open.
Offshore aquaculture production systems in Exmouth Gulf are likely to be predominantly intensive to semi-intensive. It is expected that offshore aquaculture in Exmouth Gulf will include small to medium production systems.9.
T YPES OF AQUACULTURE FOR E XMOUTH G ULF
- Aquaculture
- Management of aquaculture-related activities
Cage systems used to raise fish range from semi-intensive to intensive, depending on the species being farmed and the location of the cages. Offshore production systems are expected to be semi-intensive to intensive depending on location and type. Semi-intensive to intensive offshore systems using large diameter cages in oceanic quality water.
Mainly intensive, onshore, flow-through systems using tanks on the west coast, or intensive to semi-intensive offshore systems using cages. Tropical abalone Semi-intensive to intensive offshore systems, using barrels or other containers suspended from longlines.
E NVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT OF AQUACULTURE
- Environmental impacts associated with aquaculture activities in Exmouth Gulf
- The impact of the environment on aquaculture
- Pollution and contamination
- Parasites and predators
- The impact of aquaculture on the environment
- Positive impacts
- Negative impacts
- Regulatory mechanisms
- Distances between aquaculture sites
In relation to the environmental impact on aquaculture, there are two main issues to consider, namely: the potential impact of the natural environment and the impact of the environment that may change as a result of planned aquaculture activities. Due to the critical impact that the environment can have on fish farming, the sustainability and long-term success of the fish farm will depend on maintaining a healthy environment. 12. The environment can also affect aquaculture due to the presence of parasites and predators.
Any monitoring should be done to EPA, CALM or other government agencies having jurisdiction. Further information on the policy can be obtained from the Ministry of Fisheries if required.
C ATEGORISATION OF AREAS FOR AQUACULTURE POTENTIAL
- Areas where aquaculture cannot occur
- Areas with significant known constraints
- Areas with no known constraints
Commonly known as the two to five nautical mile separation guideline, the key elements of the policy are paraphrased as follows. In general, coastal areas in Exmouth Bay considered to have potential for the development of land-based aquaculture include parts of the west coast, south coast and east coast. In general, the sites on land for which there are no known limits to development occur on the western side of the Bay between the town of Exmouth and Learmonth.
Proponents should recognize, however, that site-specific surveys of areas in this category may uncover limitations that would prevent the Executive Director of the Department of Fisheries from approving an aquaculture license. Proposers should initially refer to Figures Two through Six to create a preliminary list of potential interests or constraints in an area.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES FOR PEARLING AND
P EARLING
A QUACULTURE
The final section allows the Executive Director to refuse to renew the authorization in circumstances that include: breach of a condition of the licence; authorization has not been used for two years; holder's failure to keep records or file statements; and other specified bases.
T HE CONSULTATION PROCESS
The Executive Director advertises proposals in the press to solicit public comment, unless they are consistent with a previously approved site plan or are for emergency use of a site. Proposals can also be sent to the Environmental Protection Authority for environmental impact assessment, under section 38 of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. Different time limits apply to the relevant stages of the process and these are elaborated in MPG No.
PLAN IMPLEMENTATION AND REVIEW
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
BIBLIOGRAPHY
THE ENVIRONMENT
- A VAILABILITY OF INFORMATION / UNDERSTANDING OF THE ENVIRONMENT
- I MPORTANT HABITATS AND FAUNA
- A BORIGINAL HERITAGE
- V ISUAL IMPACTS
- S PECIES AND INTRODUCTIONS
- L AND BASED AQUACULTURE WATER QUALITY , COASTAL IMPACTS
- G ENERAL
Baseline studies do not exist for the abiotic (water flow, geomorphology, chemical processes, etc.) and biotic (plankton, invertebrates, etc.) parameters in the Gulf. A view was expressed that independent monitoring of algal filtration was essential due to the potential environmental impacts associated with the escape of exotic algae. Wastewater from land-based aquaculture developments: The water circulation and water quality of the receiving water must be known to ensure that the potential environmental impacts can be managed.
It is important to ensure that any land-based tanks do not have a negative impact on the fragile dune system along the Gulf Coast. Exmouth Bay is of conservation importance, and it is therefore recommended that an environmental assessment be undertaken of the potential impacts of using groundwater, piping through the dune system and pumping sewage into the Bay for all aquaculture land based. projects.
MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
- C ONSULTATION
- L ICENSING ARRANGEMENTS AND PRACTICES
- A CCESS OVER LEASES
- A QUACULTURE PLANNING
- I NFORMATION COLLATION AND USE
- M ISCELLANEOUS
All proposals should be required to collect sufficient baseline monitoring information prior to project implementation to determine actual impacts. Farmers should be able to buy seeds from other hatcheries where they can be proven to be genetically identical to the local species. Environmental management and waste management practices should complement each other in the oil and aquaculture industries.
The sustainable level of aquaculture in the Gulf should be determined - it is currently unknown. It was suggested that the growth of aquaculture should be phased with independent monitoring so that if something goes wrong we will find out quickly.
FUTURE AQUACULTURE
- C OMPATIBILITY WITH EXISTING INDUSTRIES AND ACTIVITIES
- A QUACULTURE PLANNING
- G ENERAL COMMENTS , INCLUDING AQUACULTURE POTENTIAL
There should be more emphasis on monitoring existing licenses and all discharges into the Gulf - including that from the navy, to protect existing aquaculture operations. Failed projects and unprofessional operators (eg the Exmouth Gulf clam farm) tarnish the industry and management arrangements need to be put in place to prevent this from happening again. Oceanwest Fisheries, like other stakeholders in the region, believes that aquaculture and other developments must be ecologically sustainable and compatible with existing uses (tourism, recreational fishing, commercial fishing, industry, aquaculture and conservation).
The existing and proposed boundaries for the Exmouth Water Reserve along the Exmouth coast should be considered. Brine culture is a potential form of pastoralist aquaculture and should be further explored.
OVERVIEW OF PRODUCTION SYSTEMS
LOCATION AND WATER TYPE
CULTURE UNITS
Advantages of cage systems include the use that can be made of offshore bodies of water and the ability of the system to be easily expanded and moved. There are several environmental disadvantages associated with cage production systems, such as increased nutrient loads. The first involves a line suspended on the surface of the water or in the water column and usually supports several secondary lines, to which are attached a number of structures in which shellfish are found or to which they are attached.
More traditionally used in rougher and deeper waters, longline production systems are being used with increasing success for the nearshore, subtidal production of species such as pearls and edible oysters. Longline and rack systems usually involve no supplemental feeding and are relatively inexpensive to operate; however, control over predators, pollution and toxic algal blooms is lacking.
WATER FLOW
Racks are used to support clams from the seabed, usually in shallow areas during intertidal conditions, where tidal fluctuations successively submerge and expose clams. Recirculating systems, in which the water circulating through the culture units is continuously treated and recycled, are relatively expensive to set up and use more complex technology than other systems. They are typically used to grow high-value species under intensive conditions, usually in circumstances where flow-through systems are not feasible for various reasons.
INTENSITY
Semi-intensive systems typically have medium levels of management, medium culture densities, and rely on both increased natural productivity and supplemental nutrition. To maximize return on invested capital, the trend in semi-intensive aquaculture is towards producing higher value species and increasing the level of intensity and yield. Onshore, semi-intensive systems typically use medium to large ponds, rely on a flow-through, pumped water supply, and breed marine, brackish, and freshwater fish and crustaceans.
Offshore, semi-intensive systems are often used to rear fin whales in cages, at lower densities than intensive systems, and filter-feeding shellfish in longlines and racks. Extensive systems have a low level of management, low culture densities and depend on natural productivity, which can be increased by fertilization.
SCALE
Employing low levels of technology and relying on few inputs, these systems are usually limited to subsistence-level fisheries improvement and aquaculture in developing countries.
INTEGRATION
12 Report of the Rock Lobster Industry Advisory Committee to the Honorable Minister of Fisheries 24 September 1987. 59 Proceedings of the charter vessel management workshop (held as part of the First National Conference of Fisheries Managers). 82 The impact of the new management package on smaller operators in the western reef lobster fishery R.
103 Future Management of the Water Charter Industry in Western Australia by the Fishing Tour Operators Working Group (September 1997). Discussion paper prepared by Kevin Donohue on behalf of the Lobster Industry Advisory Committee.
