4. Baseline programme outline

From the environmental impact assessment of seaweed cultivation in the Faroe Islands, and where the impacts are scaled according to their assessed significance, the following baseline programme is suggested. The aim of the programme is to establish data for the natural conditions before any seaweed cultivation activities commence to be able to assess if the level of impacts is in accordance with the expected and that mitigation measures are efficient. Also from the baseline, unexpected impacts can be identified so that activities, mitigation measures, and regulation can be adjusted accordingly.

The baseline programme aligns with the recommendations from the KELPPRO project (Table 3) and in addition includes amendments according to the newest information and weighted towards Faroe Island conditions and natural parameters.

Table 3 compiles the environmental components and parameters to be measured in order to establish a baseline before any activities are initiated, and refers back to the chapter, where the potential impacts are described.

Table 3. Compiled list of environmental components to be measured when establishing a baseline for seaweed cultivation activities in the Faroe Islands to be able to detect potential environmental impacts, mitigate these, and regulate the activities accordingly.