By Robin Shields

1. Towards a Sustainable Finfish Aquaculture Industry for England,
13-14 October 2009
Welsh Aquaculture
Industry and Strategy
Dr Robin Shields
Director, Centre for Sustainable Aquaculture Research
www.aquaculturewales.com

2. 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?

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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.

12. CSAR – Example of research activities:
Water Quality Control in Intensive Aquaculture Systems
• A. Effects of water ozonation on performance
of European turbot, Psetta maxima

13. 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

14. CSAR – Example of research activities:
Effluent Management in Land-Based Aquaculture Systems
Fish faeces as a nutrient source
for farmed marine polychaete worms

15. CSAR – Example of research activities:
Effluent Management in Land-Based Aquaculture Systems
Fish faeces as a nutrient source
for farmed marine polychaete worms

16. 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 Trust
Welsh Assembly Government

17. Government Support for Welsh
Aquaculture Development

21. 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

22. WFS – current
status & future
development

23. Marine Finfish –
Key Sectoral Challenges & Opportunities
• Challenges
– Scale of production
– Location of cultivation sites
• Opportunities
– “Cluster” farm approach, with shared
processing

24. Near Term Support Mechanisms

25. European Fisheries Fund, Wales
Priority Axis Contribution
Axis 1 €1,741,000
Axis 2 €4,869,000
Axis 3 €7,995,000
Axis 4 €541,000
Axis 5 €14,000
Total €15,160,000

26. EFF Grant Allocations, to Oct 2009

27. Additional Support via Convergence?

28. 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