Objectives

The principal objective of the project is to develop methods for estimate the carrying capacity for cultivation of finfish, shellfish cultivation and sea ranching of lobster.

The project consists of three work packages (WP), which will be coordinated through workshops.

WP 1: Carrying capacity for intensive fish farming

The objective of WP 1 is to determine the flux of organic waste from fish farms into the marine system to establish the effects and the production capacity of aquaculture areas.

Sub-goals

Establish analysis of fatty acids, stable isotopes, and zinc and phosphorous for tracing organic waste from fish farms in sediments and biota
Determine the origin of various types of organic material in sediments such as macroalgae, phytoplankton, sewage, and fish farm waste
Trace organic waste from fish farms in the sediment and infauna
Trace organic waste from fish farms in the biota (epifauna and demersal fish)
Evaluate the results with regard to the distribution of organic effluents for fish farms and suggest threshold levels for acceptable impact.

WP 2: Carrying capacity of suspension feeding shellfish

Provide scientific knowledge, competence and modelling capacity that can meet the demands on assessments of carrying capacity of bivalve suspension feeders. Provide practical application of this expertise to develop a culture management system for Norwegian coastal waters.

Sub-goals

Further develop and couple existing models; the Fjord model, the Mussel model and the Farm model.
Calibrate the Mussel model to low seston conditions.
Validate the model simulations on data collected from mussel farms and production areas.

WP 3: Carrying capacity in sea ranching of European lobster

Sub-goals

Further develop and couple existing models; the Fjord model, the Mussel model and the Farm model.
Calibrate the Mussel model to low seston conditions.
Validate the model simulations on data collected from mussel farms and production areas.