As identified, the aquaculture industry is an important economic activity on all coasts of Ireland. The inshore aquaculture industry produces a variety of shellfish as well as salmon and trout. A significant proportion of the activity occurs within, or proximate to, Natura 2000 sites which are environmentally designated areas under the EU Habitats and Birds Directives.
These sites have a special status in that the features (habitats and species) for which they are designated must, in the long term, not be allowed to deteriorate. They are not closed areas or areas which aquaculture need explicitly to be prohibited. Rather the activity of any industry must be planned in order that the risk they pose to the designated environmental features can be appropriately assessed and the scale and type of activity can be regulated such that the impacts to the environment in the long term are mitigated.
Article 6 of the Habitats Directive requires that the impact of projects or plans, such as aquaculture enterprises, be appropriately assessed in relation to the feature (habitat, species) for which the site was designated, so that the likelihood of significant effects on the feature can be objectively estimated. Only when the likelihood of significance has been discounted can these activities be licensed in Natura 2000 sites. This project will investigate the interactions between proposed aquaculture activities and Natura features (habitats and species) in SACs and make licensing recommendations and provision of ongoing advisory services in relation to subsequent management of aquaculture activities in the sites.
This project is essential to the delivery of aquaculture and Natura services under the PAF and Priority Area 2 of the EMFAF Biodiversity / Aquaculture programme.
Immediate benefits will be realised by the MI in its advisory role as efforts will be strategically focussed in Natura 2000 sites that contain high levels of shellfish aquaculture or that are subject to high volumes of current and/or upcoming shellfish aquaculture licence applications.
Assessments of aquaculture activities in relation to conservation objectives of Special Areas of Conservation in compliance with guidance and legislation
Support to aquaculture licensing decisions in relation to Natura sites
Identification of likely mitigation and monitoring requirements
The project has a 6 year duration and runs between 2022 and 2027.
Number of Appropriate Assessment reports prepared and submitted to DAFM
Number of aquaculture license decisions within and outside of Natura 2000 sites
Contact: Francis.XOBeirn@Marine.ie
