implementation of sustainable marine resource management, the public has to be
included in the knowledge production in order to understand processes that take place
in our economies, environment and societies which in turn will affect the outcomes of
management actions. In the following chapter, Marine Spatial Planning
(MSP) approaches, linkages between site-selection criteria’s, GIS and modelling
towards the multi-use of offshore areas to marine governance are discussed in more
detail.
7.1 Introduction
Increasing demand by marine resource users for access to offshore marine environments, especially as a potential solution to improve food security, highlights an
urgent need for action to ensure sustainable development of offshore areas is
supported by effective management and policy. This should be prioritised by
maritime nations worldwide since demand for offshore user rights is likely to grow
especially when considering the global aquaculture industry is one of the
fastest-growing food producing sectors (FAO 2016). As a commercial sector,
marine aquaculture is a relatively young sector which has seen rapid changes
particularly in technological advances over the last 4–5 decades (Duarte et al.
2007). Public sector policies play a critical role in the development of this sector
(Hishamunda et al. 2014). To illustrate, Hishamunda et al. (2014) credit China’s
expansion of aquaculture and current prominence to specific policies introduced by
central government authorities that promote stewardship among those involved in
this sector. Aquaculture policies provide a vision and broad qualitative goals that
can, if effectively implemented, support growth of the sector and further frame the
roles of the key actors that are to be involved in aquaculture development (Brugere
et al. 2010). In this respect, corresponding governance systems need to be considered because success or failure of achieving policy goals cannot be judged on the
basis of their theoretical or technical attributes without considering the institutional,
political and cultural context in which they are applied (Araujo et al. 2004).
Thus, the role of effective governance in supporting sustainable development of
marine aquaculture especially offshore is receiving increasing interest. This is
especially valid in countries and regions failing to meet sector growth targets
through governments prioritising research and development on production and
technology, as is the case in Europe (Stead 2005, 2015). With advances in research
and development attracting growing interest in offshore aquaculture as a potential
viable investment opportunity it is timely to examine the governance and policy
needs required to support its growth in a sustainable way. So far, the Atlantic
salmon, Salmo salar L., is the most intensely farmed commercial finfish in seawater
and considered a suitable candidate for offshore aquaculture. Interest in culturing
other marine species offshore, such as aquatic plants like seaweed, molluscs and
various finfish, is growing, unlike the availability of appropriate inshore coastal
space for marine aquaculture. Thus arguably, the offshore aquaculture sector could
150
G. Krause and S.M. Stead
included in the knowledge production in order to understand processes that take place
in our economies, environment and societies which in turn will affect the outcomes of
management actions. In the following chapter, Marine Spatial Planning
(MSP) approaches, linkages between site-selection criteria’s, GIS and modelling
towards the multi-use of offshore areas to marine governance are discussed in more
detail.
7.1 Introduction
Increasing demand by marine resource users for access to offshore marine environments, especially as a potential solution to improve food security, highlights an
urgent need for action to ensure sustainable development of offshore areas is
supported by effective management and policy. This should be prioritised by
maritime nations worldwide since demand for offshore user rights is likely to grow
especially when considering the global aquaculture industry is one of the
fastest-growing food producing sectors (FAO 2016). As a commercial sector,
marine aquaculture is a relatively young sector which has seen rapid changes
particularly in technological advances over the last 4–5 decades (Duarte et al.
2007). Public sector policies play a critical role in the development of this sector
(Hishamunda et al. 2014). To illustrate, Hishamunda et al. (2014) credit China’s
expansion of aquaculture and current prominence to specific policies introduced by
central government authorities that promote stewardship among those involved in
this sector. Aquaculture policies provide a vision and broad qualitative goals that
can, if effectively implemented, support growth of the sector and further frame the
roles of the key actors that are to be involved in aquaculture development (Brugere
et al. 2010). In this respect, corresponding governance systems need to be considered because success or failure of achieving policy goals cannot be judged on the
basis of their theoretical or technical attributes without considering the institutional,
political and cultural context in which they are applied (Araujo et al. 2004).
Thus, the role of effective governance in supporting sustainable development of
marine aquaculture especially offshore is receiving increasing interest. This is
especially valid in countries and regions failing to meet sector growth targets
through governments prioritising research and development on production and
technology, as is the case in Europe (Stead 2005, 2015). With advances in research
and development attracting growing interest in offshore aquaculture as a potential
viable investment opportunity it is timely to examine the governance and policy
needs required to support its growth in a sustainable way. So far, the Atlantic
salmon, Salmo salar L., is the most intensely farmed commercial finfish in seawater
and considered a suitable candidate for offshore aquaculture. Interest in culturing
other marine species offshore, such as aquatic plants like seaweed, molluscs and
various finfish, is growing, unlike the availability of appropriate inshore coastal
space for marine aquaculture. Thus arguably, the offshore aquaculture sector could
150
G. Krause and S.M. Stead