The creation of an aquaculture industry on the Serre-Ponçon reservoir is intended to meet societal demand for local products with low environmental impact.
The aim of this project is to provide the Serre-Ponçon region with a new product that will appeal to short distribution circuits and generate jobs that cannot be relocated. To this end, the S.M.A.DE.SE.P. is conducting a prospective economic and environmental feasibility study. The aim is to assess the environmental impact of the project, so as to determine the maximum acceptable production level without upsetting the ecological balance of the Serre-Ponçon water body; to identify the economic potential of the products produced by a fish farm; and to identify the facilities and works required to operate the aquaculture site. The study is due for completion in June 2024, to enable the project to proceed (obtaining administrative authorizations and acquiring materials and equipment).
In addition, building on the initial results of the national UROS (vegetated floating rafts) experiment conducted by the Office Français de la Biodiversité on the Serre-Ponçon reservoir, the Syndicat Mixte is proposing that this fish farm project be fully integrated into a high environmental quality approach, by adding combined ecological habitats to the standard floating equipment of a fish farm: this national first would give the production facility an innovative ecological function, providing aquatic plants and habitats for the fish in the reservoir (nursery, spawning grounds, etc.).).