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Project Name:

Solway Firth Aquaculture Strategy 

Country:

UK 
Solway Firth Partnership  - Project Dates:   May 2006 - February 2007

Detailed narrative description of project:

The Project initiated by the Solway Firth Partnership in consultation with the Aquaculture Working Group (AWG) of the Solway Fisheries Forum (‘Solway Fish’). The proposal for an aquaculture strategy has evolved from the need for a cohesive development framework that is sustainable in environmental, economic and social terms. A recent AWG workshop (January 2006) identified the main concerns to be conflict with other sectors (tourism, conservation, recreation and wild shellfish harvesting), local interests and uncoordinated development. However appropriate aquaculture development could lead to local job creation and income generation that would be consistent with maintenance of the Firth’s natural heritage. The extended Project Brief therefore focuses on producing a strategy that includes:

  • A coherent framework for future aquaculture development, based on a wide-ranging stakeholder consultation process;
  • The identification of areas that are suitable for certain types of aquaculture, as well as those with potential conflicts and those where aquaculture is not suitable;
  • Where aquaculture is identified as potentially possible, and identification of the main management issues that will arise in the development and operations of the sites; and
  • The potential socio-economic benefits and value-added flowing from sustainable aquaculture development and their impact on the communities and livelihoods of the Solway Firth.

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    Detailed narrative description of actual services provided by Poseidon Aquatic
    Resource Management Ltd:

    Poseidon will produce a practical Aquaculture Strategy that includes a GIS-based framework policy map for subsequent implementation. Furthermore it will also include a time-bound ‘Action Plan’ for ensuring the integration of aquaculture development into the SFP’s overall Solway Firth Strategy as well as the recurrent business plans.