What is the problem
Mussel cultivation in coastal areas is an extensive form of aquaculture, where production mainly takes place on bottom plots or suspended in the water column in natural open water bodies. Growth and production of mussels is dependent on natural processes. These processes influence the recruitment, growth and productivity of mussel beds. Mussel yields are interdependent on survival, growth and the environment that mussels live in. Models to predict shellfish production suffer from data sparsity.
CoastObs solutions
The launch of the Sentinel satellites has opened up new opportunities for consistent monitoring of coastal ecosystem quality. Satellite methods are faster, more cost-effective and produce map outputs providing a more synoptic view of the study area with a good spatial detail and temporal coverage. Using spatio-temporal data of food variables from EO might increase the utilization, applicability and the value of shellfish growth and production models. Proper validation is required to ensure the required high quality.
Addressing target audiences and expressing needs
- To raise awareness and possibly influence policy
- Grants and Subsidies
- Expanding to more markets /finding new customers
Numerical models relating environmental variables, like food quantity and water temperature to shellfish growth can be helpful for optimization and management of shellfish culture sites, for spatial suitability analysis, and in understanding the dynamics of bivalve growth in an estuary or bay as a whole.
CoastObs integrates spatio-temporal data of S3 basic products Chlorophyll-a, Total Suspended Matter and Sea Surface Temperature with the Dynamic Energy Budget theory for shellfish. Model output generally indicates for every pixel the growth potential in terms of shell length increase, but can be tailored to users wishes if desired (e.g. monthly maps or even daily if desired). Maps of shellfish culture potential are available for Blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) in the Dutch Wadden Sea and Oosterschelde estuary and the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus provincialis) in the Spanish Galician Rias.
- Public or private funding institutions
- EU and Member State Policy-makers
- Other Actors who can help us fulfil our market potential
R&D, Technology and Innovation aspects
The introduction of EO data in shellfish production models was demonstrated successfully.
Application to other areas possible.
Well documented.
Use of EO data with modelling reduces the requirement for intensive monitoring, thus reducing costs. Environmental factor influencing yields, show seasonal and yearly variation, therefore continuous services are required.
- Europe
