Considerations of Use-Use Interactions between Macroalgae Cultivation and Other Maritime Sectors: An Eastern Baltic MSP Case Study

Aurelija Armoškaitė,Iwona Psuty,Ieva Bārda,Liisi Lees,Lena Szymanek,Ingrīda Andersone,Ida Maria Bonnevie,Sandra Sprukta,Anneliis Kõivupuu,Lise Schrøder,Henning Sten Hansen,Miriam Von Thenen,Solvita Strāķe,Anda Ikauniece,Jonne Kotta

doi:10.3390/su132413888

Abstract

With the blue economic sectors growing, marine macroalgae cultivation plays an important role in securing food and energy supplies, as well as better water quality in sustainable ways, whether alone or as part of a cluster solution to mitigate the effects of fish farming. While macroalgae cultivation exists in Europe, it is not that widely distributed yet; with increasing marine activities at sea, Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) needs to ensure social recognition as well as social and spatial representation for such a new marine activity. This comparative case study analysis of MSPs of three eastern Baltic Sea countries explores the levels of support for the development of macroalgae cultivation in MSP and the degree of co-location options for this new and increasingly important sector. It presents new analytical ways of incorporating co-location considerations into the concept of social sustainability. The results of this study support the harmonisation of views on co-location, propose ways of using space to benefit multiple users as well as marine ecosystems, and highlight some of the key social challenges and enablers for this sector.

Highlights

Introduction published maps and institutional affilIt is widely acknowledged that global seafood stocks are under heavy pressure and to avoid their collapse immediate actions need to be taken
In Latvia aquaculture is classified as a “general use”, which will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis following the offshore installation licensing procedures, Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) recommendations on use-use interactions as well as the national, the thematic long-term development plan of the public coastal infrastructure, and local government interests if the offshore development is planned to take place within 2 km from the coastline
This paper evaluated the degree to which the country-specific MSP implementations recognise and represent the macroalgae cultivation sector, and whether these MSPs consider use-use interactions for this sector, including its potential for synergic co-location with other marine activities

Summary

Introduction

It is widely acknowledged that global seafood stocks are under heavy pressure and to avoid their collapse immediate actions need to be taken. Marine aquaculture has often been proposed to increase global food security and human well-being, whilst relieving the pressures of consumption on wild stocks [1,2]. In its current form fish farming—the most widely adopted type of aquaculture—is highly resource demanding, is a source of pollution and nutrients, and leads to habitat destruction [1]. In comparison to fish farming, marine macroalgae and shellfish cultivation is considered a more sustainable way of generating raw resources for food and energy production [2]. When cultivated as part of a multi-trophic aquaculture system—in combination with fish, macroalgae and shellfish—it is seen as a promising method for resolving the environmental impacts of fish farming [3]. Macroalgae farming has the potential to mitigate eutrophication effects and local effects of ocean acidification [4] in coastal iations

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion