The overall objective of the ADepoPlan project is to improve the environmental planning toolbox available for the Faroese environment, for both industry and government, by making validated deposition models more accessible to stakeholders with limited modelling and programming experience.
As salmon aquaculture in the Faroe Islands continues to grow and expand into more exposed environments, accurate predictions of particulate organic matter (POM) deposition footprints, for both non-dispersive and dispersive fish farms, are essential for both sustainable management and regulatory compliance.
To address the need for accessible deposition models, we have developed a user-friendly prototype application that integrates the open-source Lagrangian Advection and Diffusion Model (LADiM) with 3D hydrodynamic forcing data from the FarCoast hindcast archive, developed at Firum. This R Shiny-based application incorporates a combination of Python and R code, ensuring ease of use while maintaining model flexibility. The app facilitates the integration of high-resolution oceanographic data, allowing users to simulate and predict POM deposition with minimal technical expertise. The application will be open-source at the end of the project for everyone to use and to generate trust in the model output by promoting transparency and reproducibility.
The prototype can enhance decision-making by improving site selection, impact assessments, and adaptive management strategies. Additionally, it strengthens environmental monitoring by identifying optimal locations for sediment sampling, allowing for more targeted and effective monitoring programs.
By making advanced deposition models more accessible, the ADepoPlan project strengthens environmental management of aquaculture and supports sustainable marine resource use.