ShellEye-DEMO: Satellite monitoring for shellfish and finfish aquaculture: Domain expanded; Enhanced resolution; Marine insurance; Other species

ShellEye-DEMO aims to translate novel satellite-informed techniques for early warning of harmful algae blooms (HABs) and microbiological risks into a unique and viable service to support the sustainability of UK aquaculture. This exploits existing research to identify certain HABs using satellite ocean colour, and the fusion of Earth observation, meteorological and in situ data to infer increased risk of E. coli.

The objectives are:

1. [D]omain expansion: to involve pilot aquaculture farms in two additional UK regions, and consultation with the largest salmon farms in Scotland, as a route to wider exploitation of the potential benefits of ShellEye's approach.

2. [E]nhanced resolution of HAB detection, from 1km to 300m, to improve precision of near-coast and near-farm HAB risk estimation (using latest Sentinel-3 satellite).

3. [M]arine insurance: to develop long-term HAB probability maps to assist in insurance risk assessment, and encourage clients to take up satellite early warning to reduce losses.

4. [O]ther types of aquaculture, using a customised version of the ShellEye methods to protect the emerging potential of offshore lobster farming.

This will be achieved through activities organised into 5 work packages: Stakeholder engagement; Enhanced HAB warning; Microbiological hazard warning for new domains and types; Quantifying HAB risk for marine insurance; and Advanced pilot trial. Partners from the insurance industry, aquaculture farms in three regions, and regulatory organisations, will contribute their time, expertise and data to support the application of our novel methods and engage in real-time trials. Outputs will comprise pilot risk-warning services to address the challenges of satellite monitoring and modelling of dynamic near-coastal environments; and a long-term HAB probability to inform the challenge of assessing insurance risk. Impact will be realised through development and protection of UK aquaculture industries, the quantification of reduced stock losses and recalls, and improved insurance risk assessment enabling lower premiums. All of which will help to boost the UK aquaculture industry and the quality of its produce, and contribute to increased economic gains and food security impacts for the UK.

Keywords: Sustainable aquaculture; shellfish; finfish; salmon; harmful algal blooms; E coli; satellite Earth observation; ocean colour; modelling of microbiological hazards.

Secured project partner stakeholders:
Sunderland Marine Insurance (SMI)
National Lobster Hatchery (NLH)
Westcountry Mussels Ltd (WCM)
Morecambe Bay Oysters
Bangor Mussel Producers Ltd
Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (CEFAS)
Food Standards Agency (FSA)
Shellfish Association of Great Britain (SAGB)
Scottish Salmon Producers' Organisation (SSPO)

The expected benefits of ShellEye DEMO to stakeholders are primarily focused on:

1) Development of a cost-effective, user-friendly and timely forecasting service for use by (shell)fish farmers across the UK, using state-of-the-art satellite technology combined with meteorological data.

This will reduce uncertainty and increase forecasting capability of environmental and microbiological events, which can reduce water quality and/or cause harm to farmed (shell)fish and (shell)fish consumers. This service will provide UK farmers with access to the latest marine conditions and alert them to potential hazards so they can respond to changing environmental conditions in a proactive and informed manner. Early consideration of such environmental events by (shell)fish farmers will assist management decisions and potentially improve their economic stability and sustainability by reducing the costs of lost stock.

It is also envisaged that the service will help in improving the quantity and quality of shellfish produced in UK waters, and therefore increase the economic value of (shell)fish farming and improve long-term food security for the UK. ShellEye-DEMO will provide the opportunity to evaluate the use of the bulletin service within national risk forecasting procedures to inform regulators and industry on safe (shell)fish harvesting measures, and reduce the likelihood of costly product recalls that undermine consumer confidence.

In the long-term, the ultimate aim is to commercialise the pilot service; an ambition that relies on excellent relationships with stakeholders, a thorough understanding of stakeholder challenges and a product that is truly useful, scientifically robust and fit-for-purpose.

2) Provision of hotspot maps of areas that are prone to harmful algal blooms (HABs) to aquaculture installation planners, marine insurers, general marine spatial planners and regulatory bodies.

These maps will provide valuable information on areas that have a high risk of dense HAB events and therefore highly useful for location consultations, insurance underwriting and policy and regulation development.
ShellEye DEMO has the potential to instigate a novel commercial service for the marine insurance industry and it is expected that these maps will provide valuable information on site choice / risk and therefore, potentially reduce claims concerning HABs. In the longer-term, this could have positive ramifications for aquaculture farms using the service, through the potential risk and cost reduction of insurance premiums.