The Governance of Multi-Use Platforms at Sea for Energy Production and Aquaculture: Challenges for Policy Makers in European Seas
Journal article, 2016
European seas are encountering an upsurge in competing marine activities and infrastructures. Traditional exploitation such as fisheries, tourism, transportation, and oil production are accompanied by new sustainable economic activities such as offshore windfarms, aquaculture, and tidal and wave energy. One proposed solution to overcome possible competing claims at sea lies in combining these economic activities as part of Multi-Use Platforms at Sea (MUPS). MUPS can be understood as areas at sea, designated for a combination of activities, either completely integrated in a platform or in shared marine space. MUPS can potentially benefit from each other in terms of infrastructure, maintenance, etc. Developing MUPS in the marine environment demands adequate governance. In this article, we investigate four European sites to find out how governance arrangements may facilitate or complicate MUPs. In particular, we apply a framework specifying policy, economic, social, technical, environmental, and legal (PESTEL) factors to explore governance arrangements in four case study sites in different sea basins around Europe ( the Mediterranean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean, the North Sea, and the Baltic Sea). The article concludes with policy recommendations on a governance regime for facilitating the development of MUPS in the future.
governance
aquaculture
fish
offshore
multi-use platforms
marine governance
energy production
PESTEL
Author
M. Stuiver
Wageningen University and Research
K. Soma
LEI Wageningen UR
P. Koundouri
London School of Economics and Political Science
International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy
Athens University of Economics and Business
S. van den Burg
LEI Wageningen UR
A. Gerritsen
Wageningen University and Research
T. Harkamp
Musholm A/S ReersøHavn
N. Dalsgaard
Musholm A/S ReersøHavn
F. Zagonari
University of Bologna
R. Guanche
University of Cantabria
J. J. Schouten
Deltares
S. Hommes
Deltares
A. Giannouli
International Centre for Research on the Environment and the Economy
Athens University of Economics and Business
T. Soderqvist
Enveco Environmental Economics Consultancy
Lars Rosen
Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics
Rita Coelho Steiger Garção
Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics
Jenny Norrman
Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Geology and Geotechnics
C. Rockmann
Wageningen University and Research
M. de Bel
Deltares
B. Zanuttigh
University of Bologna
O. Petersen
DHI
F. Mohlenberg
DHI
Sustainability
20711050 (eISSN)
Vol. 8 4 333Innovative Multi-purpose off-shore platforms: planning, Design and operation (MERMAID)
European Commission (EC) (EC/FP7/288710), 2012-01-01 -- 2015-12-31.
Driving Forces
Sustainable development
Subject Categories
Environmental Management
Other Social Sciences not elsewhere specified
DOI
10.3390/su8040333