Quantifying the potential contribution of saltmarshes and kelp farming to mitigating nutrient pollution in Norfolk.

Tender description

Please read Terms of Reference word doc for full information. Research questions and needs 1. Characterisation of nitrogen and phosphorous sources across Norfolk catchments, including mapped nutrient flows and sinks across the ecosystem from catchment to coast where possible. 2. A literature review of nitrogen and phosphorous assimilation by seaweed, including native species cultivated in the UK, and uptake by saltmarsh, indicating management actions that may influence these rates particularly how this would change if initial nutrient inputs were cut by 50%. 3. High level calculations of volume of seaweed that could be produced from the volume of nitrogen (and phosphorous if possible) produced on land and reaching the coast based on growth per unit of N; how much of this nitrogen (and phosphorous if possible) could realistically be removed by common UK farmed species (based on N and P uptake per Ha of seaweed); including how this would change if initial nutrient inputs were reduced by 50% 4. The mitigation potential of saltmarsh based on current extent estimates, and following managed realignment across potential restoration sites in the region. 5. A closing chapter which discusses: a. The use of Norfolk seaweed in a circular agriculture system where seaweed fertiliser substitutes some chemical fertiliser and how this would affect the whole nutrient picture in Norfolk. b. The extent to which the situation in Norfolk is generalisable to other parts of the UK c. The extent to which future nitrogen flows could affect and be affected by use of seaweed production as fertiliser and restoration of saltmarsh, linking this to the need for overall nitrogen inputs to be reduced in future d. Recommendations for future work, for example increased data collection, recommendations for agriculture, water treatment companies. Deliverables The main outcome is enhanced understanding of nitrogen and phosphorous pollution from human activity in Norfolk and the sequestration potential of these nutrients by Norfolk saltmarsh and potential kelp farms. This would be in the form of calculations, maps and infographics of nitrogen and phosphorous flow from source to sea with accompanying dialogue and discussion of the value of saltmarsh and seaweed farms in Norfolk as a tool for nitrogen pollution reduction and mitigation. The work should be provided to WWF in report form, written in-keeping with the style and tone of other WWF publications. The work should be completed to a high standard so that WWF can publish it externally. Graphic design of the report and supporting infographics in line with WWF branding style should be included and budgeted into proposals, including cost of using stock photography. We reserve the right to keep the report internal only if it does not meet our needs and/or expectations.