1. AquaSpace Case Study Carlingford Lough, UK: Issues and Tools
The research leading to these results has been undertaken as part of the AquaSpace project (Ecosystem Approach to making Space for Aquaculture, and has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 Framework Programme for Research and Innovation under grant agreement n°
Horizon 2020

2. Where is Carlingford Lough?
Trans-boundary sea Lough
Wide variety of conflicting users

3. Case Study Issues Management Issues Environmental Issues
Different Government bodies responsible for licensing
Lengthy licensing process
Environmental Issues
Spatial conflicts with nature conservation
Aquaculture occupies approx 11.2 % of Carlingford Lough SPA (Northern Ireland)
Aquaculture occupies approx 20.22% of Carlingford Shore SPA (Ireland)
Aquaculture occupies approx 9.31% of Carlingford Lough SAC (Ireland)

4. Tools Used GIS Assessment Ecological Carrying capacity model (SMILE)
AkvaVis

5. Tools Used: GIS Assessment
Extensive GIS project compiled for Carlingford Lough
Issues Addressed
Management:
Requirement to produce cumulative impact assessment reports for government
Requirement to undertake Habitats Regulations Assessments (HRA) for all new sites within or adjacent to designated areas
GIS Assessment integral part of these assessments
Environmental
Showed no spatial overlap between aquaculture and Breeding birds
Showed no spatial overlap between aquaculture and overwintering birds

6. Tools Used: Ecological Carrying Capacity Model (SMILE)
Hydrodynamic model component of the SMILE model was updated by LLE using newly available bathymetry and water current data.
Ecological model box boundaries redefined to better fit new Hydrodynamic model components.
Issues Addressed:
Management
Used to assess production carrying capacity
Required for HRA’s for applications for new sites
Environmental
Used to assess ecological carrying capacity
Used to assess cumulative impacts

7. Tools Used: AkvaVis
AkvaVis is a decision support system for aquaculture, developed in Norway
Currently working on development of an AkvaVis demonstrator model

8. Aquaspace tool
Hoped to apply the Aquaspace tool to the Carlingford Lough Case study utilising the data collected for the GIS Assessment tool
Issues
Scale of layers: Carlingford Lough too localised therefore not included in EU layers
Difficulties installing
Time consuming
Solutions
AFBI need to communicate more with Work package Leaders
Need more detailed instructions on how to install tool and prepare layers

9. Stakeholder feedback & recommendations
No stakeholder workshop held to date due to ongoing issues with Licence applications currently in process
AFBI continue to have regular engagement with:
local aquaculture industry,
government departments,
local fishermen and
local Harbour Authorities
It is planned to hold a meeting with stakeholders to showcase the Carlingford Lough AkvaVis demonstrator model once complete

10. Carlingford Lough AkvaVis Demonstrator Model Adele Boyd, Junyong You, Anne Hageberg, Øivind Strand, Heather Moore
Note: Do not change background, font or font colours.

16. AkvaVis Carlingford Lough
Data file
Parameter
Model conditions
Bathymetry
Bottom culture
Max depth must be ≥ 2 m
Trestle culture
Max depth must be ≤ 0 m
Suspended culture
Max depth must be ≥ 5 m
Current Aquaculture sites
Current licensed sites
No new aquaculture sites permitted within these areas
Conservation designated areas
Areas within designated area
New aquaculture sites will be required to undergo a Habitats Regulations Assessment before being considered.
Areas adjacent to designated area
Sensitive species
Eelgrass beds
Tern nesting sites
No aquaculture permitted within 250 m radius of these sites
Sea pens
No new bottom culture aquaculture sites permitted.
Potential for new suspended culture sites. These will be required to undergo an impact assessment.

19. Live demonstration