Operation
Aquaculture-related marine observation and health monitoring network
The goal of this operation is to prevent disturbances due to aquaculture activities and to help plan such activities. It proposes setting up a sustainable observation network of marine environments subject to aquacultural activities. Monitoring the physical, chemical and biological quality of marine water and sediments will be based on reference guides and threshold values that will be generated by this operation so as to inform status and pressure indicators.
4 actions
- Run a marine observation network (sites subject to the influence of aquacultural activities and reference sites)
- Build adequate time series of certain variables to determine or refine marine water quality thresholds
- Purchase and deploy new monitoring equipment to broaden the network (multi-parameter probes, etc.)
- Conduct a literature search on the pressures caused by aquacultural activities (fish, pearl-oyster and shrimp farming) in lagoon environments and on environmental monitoring systems (parameters, metrics and related interpretation guides)
- Consultations with those involved to clearly state the management goals then finalise, in keeping with existing systems and knowledge and scientific constraints, the specifications for the parameters that need to be integrated into the monitoring system as well as the metrics and related threshold values for determining indicators.
- Provide local authorities with useful information for drafting the technical specifications to set up a environmental parameter monitoring network designed to ensure that environments function properly
- Identify variables whose thresholds cannot be determined given current literature and for which data will have to be acquired
New Caledonia will use the first year to carefully identify the actions to be implemented, build on the experience in French Polynesia and set up, wherever possible, regional actions.
One of the actions planned is helping to organise and run a health assistance system for aquaculture facilities (fish and oysters) in connection with the existing system for the shrimp sector.
Make available information on the health conditions and protocols related to introducing a new species to an aquaculture technical centre
- Monitor proper health practices for each sector
- Pay attention to risks for aquacultural activities
- Implement biosecurity recommendations in aquacultural practices