BIM: Aquaculture Carrying Capacity

Client:            Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM)
Delivery:       September 2008

MarCon developed a computerised system to allow modelling and reporting based on numerous scenarios that could impact shellfish aquaculture in Ireland. The system was fully integrated with GIS technology using our proprietary MarGIS™ framework, and allows BIM to model and report information at a nationwide level or individual site level, thus providing an invaluable decision support tool for the Irish shellfish aquaculture industry and the regulatory authority.

MarCon teamed up with Plymouth Marine Laboratory, Longline Environmental, Blue Hill Hydraulics, NOAA and Carter Newell to develop the biological and carrying capacity numerical modelling framework to:

• Estimate the sustainable level of aquaculture in a bay.
• Optimise aquaculture production in a bay.
• Identify optimal aquaculture site locations.
• Identify optimal aquaculture site configurations.