Currently, Jersey's aquaculture industry covers 68.76 hectares of intertidal area and beach, mainly in the Royal Bay of Grouville area and primarily for the cultivation of oysters. There is a further 166 hectares of subtidal area, mainly used for scallops, around the south and east coast of Jersey. All beaches and subtidal areas are administered on behalf of the Crown for the public of Jersey, by the States of Jersey.

Production in 2011 reached a record 1064 tonnes. Between 2010 and 2011, the value of Jersey's aquaculture industry has increased 109 % from GBP 1.86 million in 2010 to an estimated GBP 3.89 million in 2011. The Pacific Oyster alone is estimated to have contributed GBP 3.72 million in value to 2011's figures. Much of this increase in value has purportedly been driven by the continued demand, but low supply of oysters in continental France, due to the considerable mortality from Oyster Herpes Virus. These economic conditions have generated an increased interest in aquaculture and subsequently led to greater interest in applying for Licences for the remaining intertidal and subtidal areas around Jersey's coast.

It is important for all parties that the aquaculture industry develops in a sustainable and efficient manner. It would therefore be inappropriate to allocate any new concessions or expansions to existing concessions until after the development of an ethical and fair system to allocate the remaining eligible space remaining in the intertidal area.

The States of Jersey (SOJ) seek an external agent to undertake the strategy design for the developmnt of this licence allocation system.