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AEI 2:193-213 (2012)  -  DOI: https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00040

An ecosystem-based approach and management framework for the integrated evaluation of bivalve aquaculture impacts

Peter J. Cranford1,*, Pauline Kamermans2, Gesche Krause3, Joseph Mazurié4, Bela H. Buck5, Per Dolmer6, David Fraser7, Kris Van Nieuwenhove8, Francis X. O’Beirn9, Adoración Sanchez-Mata10, Gudrun G. Thorarinsdóttir11, Øivind Strand12 

1Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, PO Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2, Canada
2Wageningen Institute for Marine Resources and Ecosystem Studies, PO Box 77, 4400 AB Yerseke, The Netherlands
3Center for Tropical Marine Ecology, Fahrenheitstr. 6, 28359 Bremen, Germany
4IFREMER, LER/MPL, BP 86, 56470 La Trinité/mer, France
5Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research, Am Handelshafen 12, 27570 Bremerhaven, Germany
6Technical University of Denmark, National Institute of Aquatic Resources, Kavalergårdden 6, 920 Charlottenlund, Denmark
7Fisheries Research Services, Marine Laboratory, PO Box 101, 375 Victoria Road, Aberdeen AB11 9DB, UK
8Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research − Fisheries, Ankerstraat 1, 8400 Oostende, Belgium
9Marine Institute, Rinville, Oranmore, Galway, Ireland
10Marine Resources Research Department, Marine Research Center, Xunta de Galicia, Aptdo. 13, Vilanova de Arousa 36620, Spain
11Marine Research Institute, Skulagata 4, PO Box 1390, 121 Reykjavik, Iceland
12Institute of Marine Research, Nordnesgt. 50, Boks 1870 Nordnes, 5817 Bergen, Norway

ABSTRACT: An ecosystem-based approach to bivalve aquaculture management is a strategy for the integration of aquaculture within the wider ecosystem, including human aspects, in such a way that it promotes sustainable development, equity, and resilience of ecosystems. Given the linkage between social and ecological systems, marine regulators require an ecosystem-based decision framework that structures and integrates the relationships between these systems and facilitates communication of aquaculture–environment interactions and policy-related developments and decisions. The Drivers-Pressures-State Change-Impact-Response (DPSIR) management framework incorporates the connectivity between human and ecological issues and would permit available performance indicators to be identified and organized in a manner that facilitates different regulatory needs. Suitable performance indicators and modeling approaches, which are used to assess DPSIR framework components, are reviewed with a focus on the key environmental issues associated with bivalve farming. Indicator selection criteria are provided to facilitate constraining the number of indicators within the management framework. It is recommended that an ecosystem-based approach for bivalve aquaculture be based on a tiered indicator monitoring system that is structured on the principle that increased environmental risk requires increased monitoring effort. More than 1 threshold for each indicator would permit implementation of predetermined impact prevention and mitigation measures prior to reaching an unacceptable ecological state. We provide an example of a tiered monitoring program that would communicate knowledge to decision-makers on ecosystem State Change and Impact components of the DPSIR framework.


KEY WORDS: Bivalve aquaculture management · Ecosystem-based approach · DPSIR framework · Indicators · Thresholds · Benthic effects · Pelagic effects · Social-ecological systems


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Cite this article as: Cranford PJ, Kamermans P, Krause G, Mazurié J and others (2012) An ecosystem-based approach and management framework for the integrated evaluation of bivalve aquaculture impacts. Aquacult Environ Interact 2:193-213. https://doi.org/10.3354/aei00040

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