Seabed Lease
The area of seabed required for the three farms is the property of the Crown Estate.
The Crown Estate issues leases on its property and charges a rent for its use but they
also have a stewardship role and an obligation to manage and enhance the value of
their coastal assets. This means that the Crown Estate encourages the development
of sustainable aquaculture at appropriate locations. There was therefore a need to
obtain a lease from the Crown Estate who reviewed potential impacts of the project
to the natural environment and to other users of the marine resource.
The application for a seabed lease followed a similar pattern to the application
for a CPA Section 34 Consent. The same groups were consulted and a similar
period was given for responses to be submitted. The applicant was then given the
opportunity to address any of the issues raised by the consultees and to make
adjustments to the application where appropriate. The issues raised included the
potential effects of increased sedimentation below the farm structures, the primary
productivity and carrying capacity of the water body, the structural integrity of the
equipment and the provision of a decommissioning bond.
The Crown Estate then considered all the responses from the consultees and the
applicant and made the judgement to issue a conditional lease for the trial phases of
the project with an agreement to issue a lease for the full project on successful
completion of the trials. The process of lease application, consultation, consideration and decision took approximately 10 months.
Aquaculture Production Business
Under European Council Directive 2006/88/EC all member states must maintain a
register of Aquaculture Production Businesses for the purposes of preventing the
spread of the disease and controlling movements of aquaculture animals and
products. In England and Wales the register is maintained by the FHI (Fish Health
Inspectorate) which is a unit within CEFAS (Centre for Environment,
Fisheries & Aquaculture Science).
The FHI required the applicant aquaculture business to draw up a biosecurity
plan, to maintain a record of movements on and off the farm premises, and to report
and maintain a record of unusual mortalities. The business was then registered
under Annex II of the Public register of Aquaculture Production Businesses in
England and Wales.
Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification
Classification of harvesting areas is required and implemented in England and
Wales under European Regulation 854/2004 before live bivalve shellfish are permitted to be placed on the market. The coordination of the shellfish harvesting area
classification and monitoring programme in England and Wales is carried out by
CEFAS on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
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219
The area of seabed required for the three farms is the property of the Crown Estate.
The Crown Estate issues leases on its property and charges a rent for its use but they
also have a stewardship role and an obligation to manage and enhance the value of
their coastal assets. This means that the Crown Estate encourages the development
of sustainable aquaculture at appropriate locations. There was therefore a need to
obtain a lease from the Crown Estate who reviewed potential impacts of the project
to the natural environment and to other users of the marine resource.
The application for a seabed lease followed a similar pattern to the application
for a CPA Section 34 Consent. The same groups were consulted and a similar
period was given for responses to be submitted. The applicant was then given the
opportunity to address any of the issues raised by the consultees and to make
adjustments to the application where appropriate. The issues raised included the
potential effects of increased sedimentation below the farm structures, the primary
productivity and carrying capacity of the water body, the structural integrity of the
equipment and the provision of a decommissioning bond.
The Crown Estate then considered all the responses from the consultees and the
applicant and made the judgement to issue a conditional lease for the trial phases of
the project with an agreement to issue a lease for the full project on successful
completion of the trials. The process of lease application, consultation, consideration and decision took approximately 10 months.
Aquaculture Production Business
Under European Council Directive 2006/88/EC all member states must maintain a
register of Aquaculture Production Businesses for the purposes of preventing the
spread of the disease and controlling movements of aquaculture animals and
products. In England and Wales the register is maintained by the FHI (Fish Health
Inspectorate) which is a unit within CEFAS (Centre for Environment,
Fisheries & Aquaculture Science).
The FHI required the applicant aquaculture business to draw up a biosecurity
plan, to maintain a record of movements on and off the farm premises, and to report
and maintain a record of unusual mortalities. The business was then registered
under Annex II of the Public register of Aquaculture Production Businesses in
England and Wales.
Shellfish Harvesting Area Classification
Classification of harvesting areas is required and implemented in England and
Wales under European Regulation 854/2004 before live bivalve shellfish are permitted to be placed on the market. The coordination of the shellfish harvesting area
classification and monitoring programme in England and Wales is carried out by
CEFAS on behalf of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
9 Regulation and Permitting of Standalone …
219