Informing Marine Spatial Planning (MSP) with numerical modelling: A case-study on shellfish aquaculture in Malpeque Bay (Eastern Canada)

A moratorium on further bivalve leasing was established in 1999–2000 in Prince Edward Island (Canada). Recently, a marine spatial planning process was initiated explore potential mussel culture expansion in Malpeque Bay. This study focuses on the effects of a projected expansion scenario on producti...

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Published inMarine pollution bulletin Vol. 100; no. 1; pp. 200 - 216
Main Authors Filgueira, Ramón, Guyondet, Thomas, Bacher, Cédric, Comeau, Luc A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Elsevier Ltd 15.11.2015
Elsevier
Subjects
Animals
Aquaculture
Bays
Biomass
Bivalvia
Carrying capacity
Ecosystem
Ecosystem-based management
Environment
Life Sciences
Marine
Marine spatial planning
Models, Theoretical
Physical-biogeochemical model
Phytoplankton
Prince Edward Island
Sciences of the Universe
Shellfish
Prince Edward Island
Carrying capacity
Physical-biogeochemical model
Marine spatial planning
Ecosystem-based management
Aquaculture
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Summary:A moratorium on further bivalve leasing was established in 1999–2000 in Prince Edward Island (Canada). Recently, a marine spatial planning process was initiated explore potential mussel culture expansion in Malpeque Bay. This study focuses on the effects of a projected expansion scenario on productivity of existing leases and available suspended food resources. The aim is to provide a robust scientific assessment using available datasets and three modelling approaches ranging in complexity: (1) a connectivity analysis among culture areas; (2) a scenario analysis of organic seston dynamics based on a simplified biogeochemical model; and (3) a scenario analysis of phytoplankton dynamics based on an ecosystem model. These complementary approaches suggest (1) new leases can affect existing culture both through direct connectivity and through bay-scale effects driven by the overall increase in mussel biomass, and (2) a net reduction of phytoplankton within the bounds of its natural variation in the area. •Shellfish carrying capacity was explored using numerical modelling•Scenario building was used to explore hypothetical aquaculture expansion•Assessment for marine spatial planning was provided based on modelling outcomes
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
content type line 23
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.08.048