Welsh Aquaculture Industry and Strategy

Dr Robin ShieldsDirector, Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research

Towards a Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture Industry for England, 13-14 October 2009

www.aquaculturewales.com

Food for thought……

• Addressing DEFRA’s Food Security agenda will require large volume finfish production in England:– Which species?– Which technologies?– Which locations?– Funded how?

Much discussion about RAS

• The rest of Europe / the world isn’t waiting for us…..!– Eg, October 2009 EATIP SRA on Recirculating

Aquaculture Systems– Welsh RAS technologies being exported

globally

Background to Aquaculture Development in Wales

• Wales has invested in regionally distinct, sustainable aquaculture technologies with positive commercial outcomes.

• This has involved a structured discussion between stakeholders and government over a circa 10 year period, involving the production of several strategy documents.

• Sizeable public (EU) investments have been required to kick start new aquaculture developments in Wales via:– Fisheries instruments– Structural funding (Objective 1)

Snapshot of the Welsh Aquaculture Industry

• Long established “traditional” fish farming sector (trout for table / stocking / recreational fisheries) and seabed shellfish cultivation

• Recent industry growth via companies engaged in:– Systems design and manufacture– Land-based production of high value marine species– Extensive cultivation of blue mussels (largest such industry in

the UK)– Development and production of specialty aqua-feeds– Breeding technologies for warm water finfish– Specialist consultancy services

• Net result: Welsh aquaculture sector “punches above weight” and has strong international presence

Aquaculture in Wales

• Seabed cultivation of blue mussels:– > 10,000 T pa: largest such industry in the UK– Grant assistance for vessels– Prime example of multi-user conflict in the

coastal zone, ref Gallows Point High Court case

Photos courtesy of SFIA

Aquaculture in Wales• Land-based marine finfish production:

– > 1,000 T pa capacity, mainly sea bass – Advanced recirculating aquaculture systems– Expertise “re-imported” from Mediterannean– Grant assistance for infrastructure

Aquaculture in Wales• Land-based marine invertebrate production –

– “King ragworm”– Traditionally for angling bait– Recent investments to enable use in high value

“aqua-feeds” – Current trials with multitrophic aquaculture –

trout / ragworm

Aquaculture in Wales• Freshwater production of salmonids:

– Rainbow trout for table and recreational fishing• Approx 500 T total pa for the table, from multiple

producers – static/declining

– Brown trout & salmon for re-stocking

Aquaculture in Wales

• Other specialty and non-food operations: – Genetically improved tilapia

(fry and broodstock for export)

– Pacific oyster production– Ornamental fish (koi carp)– Medicinal leeches– Microalgae exploitation for

food/feeds and CO2 mitigation

Investment in Aquaculture RTD Services

• Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research– Aquaculture water quality control, effluent management and

bioremediation;– Sustainability of raw materials used in aquaculture (esp feed

ingredients);– Algal biotechnology for CO2 mitigation, bioenergy, and feed &food

applications;– Aquaculture – environment interactions.

• A. Effects of water ozonation on performance of European turbot, Psetta maxima

CSAR – Example of research activities:Water Quality Control in Intensive Aquaculture Systems

Effects of water ozonation on performance of European turbot, Psetta maxima

200 mV 320 mV 360 mV

Initial weight, g 142.3 139.6 140.8

Final weight, g 315.2 325.4 371.4

% feed intake 0.93 0.96 1.05

Wt gain, g/ fish /day 1.90 2.04 2.53

FCR 1.05 1.02 0.94

Survival (%) 80.0 77.1 92.9

Fish faeces as a nutrient source for farmed marine polychaete worms

CSAR – Example of research activities:Effluent Management in Land-Based Aquaculture Systems

Fish faeces as a nutrient source for farmed marine polychaete worms

CSAR – Example of research activities:Effluent Management in Land-Based Aquaculture Systems

CSAR – Example of research activities:Microalgal Biotechnology

• Photobioreactor configuration• Industrial CO2 capture• Nutrient formulation (from wastes)• Biomass harvesting & processing• Modelling (biological, processes,

economic)

EC FP7 UK Carbon TrustWelsh Assembly Government

Government Support for Welsh Aquaculture Development

Welsh Aquaculture Producers’ Association, 2008

• Not-for-profit organisation founded to:– Promote, represent and

inform Welsh aquaculture locally, nationally and internationally

• > 25 full members directly involved in aquaculture production

WFS – current status & future development

Marine Finfish –Key Sectoral Challenges & Opportunities

• Challenges– Scale of production– Location of cultivation sites

• Opportunities– “Cluster” farm approach, with shared

processing

Near Term Support Mechanisms

European Fisheries Fund, Wales

Priority Axis ContributionAxis 1 €1,741,000Axis 2 €4,869,000Axis 3 €7,995,000Axis 4 €541,000Axis 5 €14,000

Total €15,160,000

EFF Grant Allocations, to Oct 2009

Additional Support via Convergence?

Summary and Conclusions

• Genuine innovations, technical advances, boosted aquaculture production capacity and business growth thanks to direct Assembly Government support.

• A long term process – Wales still in “Phase 1” after almost 10 yrs?

• Strategic plans need to be specific, time-bound and incentivised:– Otherwise, international community will (again!) benefit the

most from UK aquaculture investments & expertise

• Welsh aquaculture industry and institutions are willing to contribute their expertise and experiences to the process of developing the finfish aquaculture sector in England