therefore definitely proved the suitability of these bivalve extractive species for
open ocean aquaculture. Another approach for multi-use in offshore wind farms is
its use as marine protected area or even for reinforcement or restoration of
endangered species, which need the absence of any fisheries activity for recovery.
Current projects are testing this perspective for the native European oyster Ostrea
edulis and the European lobster Homarus gammarus. From the technological point
of view there are many options on how to connect aquaculture devices, such as
longline and ring structures as well as different cage types, to the foundations as
well as to install it in the centre of the free area between wind turbines. Next to the
system design also experiments on drag forces originating from the aquaculture
structure on the foundation and vice versa were investigated. Complementary to the
biological, environmental end technical aspects, a number of studies were specifically targeted to address and include stakeholders, their attitudes, their interests and
concerns over time. By this approach, the inclusion of stakeholders into the research
process from its very beginning until today, co-production of knowledge could be
fostered. Next to joint identification of the major impediments and concerns of
offshore aquaculture under multi-use conditions, new issues and research questions
were identified. Primary focus on the economic potential of aquaculture in offshore
wind farms was shown for consumption mussels. The production of mussels using
longline technology is sufficiently profitable even under the assumption of substantial cost increases. This is especially true, if existing capacities could be used.
Last but not least, the EEZ is a special area—it is not a state territory even if a
coastal state has its sovereign rights and jurisdiction. It is an area where three legal
systems come together: international law, law of the European Union and national
law. There are no mariculture projects in the German EEZ and no approval procedure has been completed so far. Some sites are not suitable for mariculture,
especially because of nature conservation and shipping.
11.1 Introduction
The development of “offshore aquaculture” or “open ocean aquaculture” has often
been described as the new challenging frontier of the “Blue Revolution”, which
puts current aquaculture efforts on the same level as the advances made in agriculture during the so-called “Green Revolution” in the onset of the 1950s (Krause
et al. 2015). The motivation to foster this type of marine development roots against
the backdrop of the rising concerns that the over-exploitation and economic inefficiencies in the capture-fisheries sector are leading to widespread severe decline of
global food security. However, to date, the search for resilient solutions in the
aquaculture sector to meet production, income, community development and food
supply and security needs remains critical.
In contrast to nearshore aquaculture development, offshore aquaculture faces
several additional challenges, one of which is that in Germany it is located in the
EEZ, the Exclusive Economic Zone. The latter is defined by United Nations
254
B.H. Buck et al.
open ocean aquaculture. Another approach for multi-use in offshore wind farms is
its use as marine protected area or even for reinforcement or restoration of
endangered species, which need the absence of any fisheries activity for recovery.
Current projects are testing this perspective for the native European oyster Ostrea
edulis and the European lobster Homarus gammarus. From the technological point
of view there are many options on how to connect aquaculture devices, such as
longline and ring structures as well as different cage types, to the foundations as
well as to install it in the centre of the free area between wind turbines. Next to the
system design also experiments on drag forces originating from the aquaculture
structure on the foundation and vice versa were investigated. Complementary to the
biological, environmental end technical aspects, a number of studies were specifically targeted to address and include stakeholders, their attitudes, their interests and
concerns over time. By this approach, the inclusion of stakeholders into the research
process from its very beginning until today, co-production of knowledge could be
fostered. Next to joint identification of the major impediments and concerns of
offshore aquaculture under multi-use conditions, new issues and research questions
were identified. Primary focus on the economic potential of aquaculture in offshore
wind farms was shown for consumption mussels. The production of mussels using
longline technology is sufficiently profitable even under the assumption of substantial cost increases. This is especially true, if existing capacities could be used.
Last but not least, the EEZ is a special area—it is not a state territory even if a
coastal state has its sovereign rights and jurisdiction. It is an area where three legal
systems come together: international law, law of the European Union and national
law. There are no mariculture projects in the German EEZ and no approval procedure has been completed so far. Some sites are not suitable for mariculture,
especially because of nature conservation and shipping.
11.1 Introduction
The development of “offshore aquaculture” or “open ocean aquaculture” has often
been described as the new challenging frontier of the “Blue Revolution”, which
puts current aquaculture efforts on the same level as the advances made in agriculture during the so-called “Green Revolution” in the onset of the 1950s (Krause
et al. 2015). The motivation to foster this type of marine development roots against
the backdrop of the rising concerns that the over-exploitation and economic inefficiencies in the capture-fisheries sector are leading to widespread severe decline of
global food security. However, to date, the search for resilient solutions in the
aquaculture sector to meet production, income, community development and food
supply and security needs remains critical.
In contrast to nearshore aquaculture development, offshore aquaculture faces
several additional challenges, one of which is that in Germany it is located in the
EEZ, the Exclusive Economic Zone. The latter is defined by United Nations
254
B.H. Buck et al.