The Water Framework Directive and the Aquaculture Industry

1
The Water Framework Directive and the Aquaculture
Industry

• Claire Vincent
• Environmental Policy Group
• Department of the Environment
• Northern Ireland

2
Introduction

• Outline of Directive
• Characterisation
• Classification
• Frequently asked questions

3
WFD Approach

• ..most ambitious, most expensive and most
  significant piece of EU legislation to hit the
  statute book(ENDS 2004).

• it is a framework to protect the water
  environment

• emphasis is on ecology rather than water quality

• Pressure and impact analysis

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What is the Purpose of WFD?

• Prevent further deterioration
• Protect and enhance aquatic ecosystems (including
  terrestrial and wetlands)
• Reduction of priority substances
• Phasing out of priority hazardous substances
• Protection of territorial and marine waters
• 1nmile from baseline for ecological quality
• 12nmiles from baseline for chemical quality

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To which waters does WFD apply?
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• River basins districts

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What is the process?
Evaluating risk of failing objectives.
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On what timescale?
2004 - Characterisation
2006 - Monitoring Programmes
2009 - River Basin District Plan
Good Status
2015
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Part 22004 - Characterisation

• Annex II
• Typology water bodies
• Analysis of Pressures and Impacts
• Economic analysis of water use

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Typology

• Physiological types that are ecologically
  relevant
• Ecological quality-
• Compare like with like

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Protected Area (bathing beach)
Coastal Water
Transitional Water
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Coastal WaterTypology - Tidal Range - Salinity -
Exposure
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Draft water bodies Northern Ireland
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What about aquaculture activities in 2004 report?

• Annexes II III
• Shellfish waters protected areas
• Salmon farming marine specific pressure
• UK thinking
• Nutrients inputs / trophic status
• Organic loading
• Dangerous substances
• Hydromorphology
• Alien Species

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Part 3Classification

• 2004 Characterisation
• Initial classification
• At risk or not at risk
• 2008 draft river basin management plan
• 2009 RBMP

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Principles of status classification
HIGH STATUS REFERENCE CONDITIONS
IMPACTED CONDITIONS
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What are ecological chemical status?
Good ecological status
Good chemical status

• EQOs for 18 list I substances under daughter
  directives

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Elements of ecological status
General phys.-chemical parameters
Biological quality elements
Phys.-chemical parameters
Other chemical pollutants
Priority substances
Hydromorphological quality elements
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10. What are the elements of ecological status?
Biological quality elements
Phys.-chemical parameters
Hydromorphological quality elements
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Ecological status - Are biology and chemistry
equally weighted?
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For good status.
Good chemical status Priority hazardous
subs EQSs set at Community level
Good ecological status Biology Physico-chemical h
ydromorphological

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Part 4 Frequently Asked Questions
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Do the same objectives apply in all areas?

• Conservation Areas (SACs SPAs etc)

• Shellfish and Bathing Water sites

• Waters for abstraction for drinking water

Good/High status
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Designated Shellfish Water Good ecological
status bacteriological
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Special Areas of Conservation

• Habitats or species
• Good whatever is required for favourable
  conservation status

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Must all areas be restored to pristine
(reference) conditions?

• No!
• The target in WFD is good status
• Good ecological status and
• Good chemical status
• With no deterioration

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WFD Aims
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What about a new aquaculture activity in a high
status area?

• High ecological status
• undisturbed biology
• no, or only very minor, anthropogenic alterations
  to the physicochemistry and hydromorphology of
  the water body.
• MSs will not be in breach when a failure to
  prevent deterioration from high to good is the
  result of sustainable human development
  activities

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What are the implications for the aquaculture
industry?

• Some aquaculture activities have the potential to
  alter ecological status
• Bottom culture shellfish
• The key to minimise the area of impact and to
  ensure sustainable aquaculture practices.