Co-ordinated Local Aquaculture Management Systems - CLAMS

In 1998 the Department of the Marine and Natural Resources (DoMNR) announced the establishment of a Co-ordinated Local Aquaculture Management System group (CLAMS). This group incorporates Single Bay Management with Coastal Zone Management policy and County Development Plans. Though CLAMS is integrated with these plans and the viewpoints of all interest groups are documented, the process is driven by the aquaculture producers working within the framework of national policy. BIM and the Marine Institute have been charged with the responsibility for developing the CLAMS framework at local level.

How does CLAMS work?

The CLAMS process is a non-statutory management system, which is anchored in the national marine policy and development programmes. It is envisaged that CLAMS will highlight issues in a bay and co-ordinate the industry and relevant bodies to deal with them. It is separate to licensing issues and is not going to solve or take responsibility for all issues. The concept focuses at local bay level while still taking on board relevant national policies. The object of this process is to formulate a management plan for the bay, which incorporates and extends the concepts of Single Bay Management to all farmed species.

What is the aim of CLAMS?

CLAMS provides a concise description of the bay in terms of physical characteristics, history, aquaculture operations, future potential, problems, etc. It also allows various Codes of Practice to be customised and integrated into the aquaculture industry operating in the bay. In addition to this, CLAMS provides the framework from which a management and development plan for aquaculture in the bay can be drawn. Another important aspect of CLAMS is the fact that this process acts as a focus group for the community. This will then provide an information channel from local to national level and vice versa. It is envisaged that this will provide a framework for addressing issues that affect or are affected by aquaculture activities and streamline the resolution of these situations.

What are the steps in establishing CLAMS?

The following steps are undertaken each time the CLAMS process is established in a bay:

• Define specific area.
• Consult with DoMNR on relevant policy and licensing issues for the area.
• Identify local CLAMS officer and local resources.
• Download relevant information on existing production and licensing from GIS/database. Input additional relevant positional data into GIS/database and verify locations, etc.
• Meet with all existing producers individually in area to discuss CLAMS.
• Meet with third parties, on a regional basis, for input into process.
• Prepare an agenda that raises major issues encountered in preliminary meetings.
• Form CLAMS Group. Initial meeting of all producers and co-ordinators with relevant regional BIM/DoMNR personnel, discuss summary of major issues and development strategy.
• Appoint local liaison officer
• Agree on a working group to deal with matters arising that need to be addressed in relation to proper management of the bay.
• Compile additional data and information.
• Draft initial CLAMS document and circulate to group.
• Meeting of group to revise document.
• Arrange and schedule future meetings to review issues and modify plan.
• Information presentations of the plan to relevant local bodies, councils and state agencies.