Cumulative effects of blue mussel farming (113353)

The overall aim of the project is to develop documentation for the cumulative effects of off-bottom mussel farming and technology that can contribute to measuring the environmental effects of the farming. The knowledge provided by the project can be used by the responsible authorities in a new approach to the management of mussel farming. With a new approach, the moratorium on new farming permits could be lifted and thereby meet the Danish aquaculture strategy objectives of growth in the production of low-trophic aquaculture.

The project consists of three different types of activities: 

a) Actual measurements of environmental conditions and mussel farming impact at farming facilities in different areas of the western part of the Limfjorden and associated development of practical methods of farmers self-control with focus on effects of sedimentation under the farms; 

b) Modeling at the scale of production areas/water bodies of cumulative effects of mussel farming; 

c) Communication of results to different end-users. 

The project is divided into four work packages: 

AP1: Measurement and monitoring of benthic and pelagic parameters; 

AP2: Dynamic ecological modeling at basin scale; 

AP3: Development of methods, training of environmental assessment practitioners and protocol; 

AP4: Dissemination and project management.

Funding

This project is co-funded by the European Union through the Danish Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme (EMFAF).

Research area: Coastal Ecology
Research area: Aquaculture
Research area: Ecosystem based Marine Management
Research area: Marine Habitats