CHAPTER 22
GIS and Aquaculture: Soft-Shell Clam Site Assessment
A. Simms
ABSTRACT: The 1992 collapse of the Newfoundland, Canada northern cod fishery and
the subsequent closure of a majority of the inshore ground fishery has placed a focus on
the development of aquaculture within the province. In May 1995 Innovative Fisheries
Inc. of St. John’s, Newfoundland conducted field studies to evaluate the soft-shell clam
resources on three sand flats near Burgeo, Newfoundland. GIS can be used to examine
issues regarding the development and management of the soft-shell clam beds. GIS can
also be applied to examine the issue of “competing uses” for the proposed soft-shell
clam aquaculture site. The information presented in this study indicates that GIS is an
important tool for the aquaculture industry. These systems can be used to monitor,
quantify and evaluate the soft-shell beds near Burgeo. Management issues such as water
quality, resource sustainability as well as the economic viability of the clam resource
can be assessed within a GIS environment. The results of the analysis in this study
suggest potential problems with faecal coliform contamination from local cottages.
Finally, data collection for aquaculture site assessment is required if a resource is to be
managed effectively. GIS applications provide insights into the quality of the physical
environment as well as the sustainability of a resource. However, it is the aquaculture
operators who ultimately make the final decisions.
Introduction
The 1992 collapse of the Newfoundland, Canada northern cod fishery and the
subsequent closure of a majority of the inshore ground fishery have placed a focus on
the development of aquaculture within the province. Aquaculture development is also
encouraged by government policy and funding. Traditionally, commercial aquaculture
within Newfoundland coastal areas was limited and produced either cultured mussels or
trout. Recently, salmon, scallop and cod farming have been attempted with limited
success. Therefore, a majority of aquaculture farms are based on “seeded” rather than
275
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 275–295.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.
GIS and Aquaculture: Soft-Shell Clam Site Assessment
A. Simms
ABSTRACT: The 1992 collapse of the Newfoundland, Canada northern cod fishery and
the subsequent closure of a majority of the inshore ground fishery has placed a focus on
the development of aquaculture within the province. In May 1995 Innovative Fisheries
Inc. of St. John’s, Newfoundland conducted field studies to evaluate the soft-shell clam
resources on three sand flats near Burgeo, Newfoundland. GIS can be used to examine
issues regarding the development and management of the soft-shell clam beds. GIS can
also be applied to examine the issue of “competing uses” for the proposed soft-shell
clam aquaculture site. The information presented in this study indicates that GIS is an
important tool for the aquaculture industry. These systems can be used to monitor,
quantify and evaluate the soft-shell beds near Burgeo. Management issues such as water
quality, resource sustainability as well as the economic viability of the clam resource
can be assessed within a GIS environment. The results of the analysis in this study
suggest potential problems with faecal coliform contamination from local cottages.
Finally, data collection for aquaculture site assessment is required if a resource is to be
managed effectively. GIS applications provide insights into the quality of the physical
environment as well as the sustainability of a resource. However, it is the aquaculture
operators who ultimately make the final decisions.
Introduction
The 1992 collapse of the Newfoundland, Canada northern cod fishery and the
subsequent closure of a majority of the inshore ground fishery have placed a focus on
the development of aquaculture within the province. Aquaculture development is also
encouraged by government policy and funding. Traditionally, commercial aquaculture
within Newfoundland coastal areas was limited and produced either cultured mussels or
trout. Recently, salmon, scallop and cod farming have been attempted with limited
success. Therefore, a majority of aquaculture farms are based on “seeded” rather than
275
D.R. Green and S.D. King (eds.), Coastal and Marine Geo-Information Systems, 275–295.
© 2003 Kluwer Academic Publishers. Printed in the Netherlands.