Monitoring framework for the Waikato coastal marine area: Report 2 – Regional aquaculture monitoring priorities and guidance

TR 2015/39
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Report: TR 2015/39

Author: Barrie Forrest, Chris Cornelisen, Deanna Clement, Nigel Keeley & Dave Taylor (Cawthron Institute) 

About this report

This is one of  three reports that present a framework for regional environmental monitoring in the coastal marine area (CMA), with particular emphasis on supporting more effective environmental monitoring of consented activities.

The main objectives of this framework are integration of state of the environment (SOE) and consent-related environmental monitoring, alignment of interests (relevant information for industry, council and communities), consistency (within region, among activities and, where possible, national), cost-effectiveness, certainty (providing clear guidance to consent applicants) and better management of cumulative effects in the consent process.

Report 1 (TR 2015/38) outlines the framework. Aquaculture was chosen as the first case study for this framework, and reports 2 and 3 (TR 2015/39 and TR 2015/40) apply the framework to current and future aquaculture activities in the Waikato region.

More specifically:

Report 1: Monitoring framework (TR 2015/38)
Presents the rationale and key elements of a regional monitoring framework that integrates monitoring associated with consented activities and wider SOE monitoring.

Report 2: Regional guidance on priority issues and monitoring (TR 2015/39)
Covers the ecological effects of aquaculture in the Waikato CMA and identifies the priority issues that need to be addressed through industry best practice and reporting, and/or through monitoring of effects.

Report 3: Monitoring methodologies and standards (TR 2015/40)
Recommends methodologies and standards for monitoring the seabed, water column and the wider environment in relation to the potential effects of aquaculture.

The focus of the work to date was on developing the framework and developing guidance to support future application to aquaculture. These three reports propose conceptual approaches for standards that can be developed over time as more data becomes available and as individual consents are addressed.

Waikato Regional Council commissioned the Cawthron Institute to prepare these three reports. We acknowledge the support from the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) Aquaculture Planning Fund.

Read or download the report

Monitoring framework for the Waikato coastal marine area: Report 2 – Regional aquaculture monitoring priorities and guidance [PDF, 1.7 MB]

Contents
1 Introduction
1.1 Report scope and objectives
1.2 Recap of rationale for regional monitoring framework
2 Ecolgoical effects and aquaculture monitoring in the Waikato region
2.1 Ecological issues associated with aquaculture development
2.2 Aquaculture activities and present monitoring in the Waikato region
2.2.1 Aquaculture types and locations
2.2.2 Aquaculture monitoring
3 Approach to development of reporting and monitoring guidance
3.1 General approach
3.2 Structure and scope of Sections 4-10
4 Water-column effects
4.1 Overview of ecological issues
4.1.1 Local-scale issues
4.1.2 Broad-scale issues
4.2 Best management practices and reporting
4.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
5 Seabed effects
5.1 Overview of ecological issues
5.2 Best management practices and reporting
5.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
6 Marine mammal and seabird interactions
6.1 Overview of ecological issues
6.2 Best management practices and reporting
6.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
7 Wild fish interactions
7.1 Overview of ecological issues
7.2 Best management practices and reporting
7.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
8 Escapees and genetic effects
8.1 Overview of ecological issues
8.2 Best management practices and reporting
8.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
9 Additives
9.1 Overview of ecological issues
9.2 Best management practices and reporting
9.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
10 Biosecurity: Pests, diseases, parasites and harmful algae
10.1 Overview of ecological issues
10.2 Best management practices and reporting
10.2.1 Risk pathways
10.2.2 On-farm biosecurity
10.3 Consent and state of the environment monitoring
11 Summary and synthesis
12 Acknowledgements
13 References