demonstration pilot stage, further research is needed, which will be funded under
the umbrella of two larger calls for proposals described below.
One barrier to multi-use the offshore realm is that different environmental, safety
and regulatory regimes and practices apply to different sectors and to different
national jurisdictions. Furthermore, there is a lack of common understanding of the
nature of operations within different sectors and the feasibility of combining these
in a way that provides mutual benefits. The first proposal call, “Multi-use of the
oceans’ marine space, offshore and near-shore: compatibility, regulations, environmental and legal issues” (BG-03-2016, 2 million Euros per proposal) was started
in November 2016 (e.g. Project No. 17 “MUSES” in Chap. 13). The challenge is to
identify the real and perceived barriers to integration. Therefore, there is a need for
a clear overview of compatibility, regulatory, environmental, safety, societal and
legal issues within the context of the maritime spatial planning directive and how
they impact on the combining of different marine and maritime activities (EU
2016).
In the second proposal call, it is postulated that technological research and
innovations are needed to reduce risks for operators and investors. Therefore, the
call “Multi-use of the oceans marine space, offshore and near-shore: Enabling
technologies” (BG-04-2017, 8 million Euros per proposal) was initiated in October
2016. The scope of the proposals should cover aspects with regard to combinations
of innovative, cost-effective technologies and methods including automation and
remote monitoring technologies, flexible structures and facilities in order to test
concepts of multi-use platforms leading to pilot demonstration phases. Tests of the
sustainable operability of co-located maritime activities around coastal or deep sea
environments as well as health and safety issues associated with multi-use marine
platforms should be addressed as well as environmental and economic viability and
societal acceptance (EU 2016). However, as this call more or less covers a vast
collection of emerging issues (offshore to nearshore, technology, economy, environmental issues, social issues, and many suggested multi-use combinations, etc.)
we recommend to focus on the most promising multi-uses resulting from previous
nation and international projects.
14.5 Recommendations to Accelerate Development
in the Future
14.5.1 International Test Station
Scientists working in the field of offshore platforms, either for marine bio-resources
or renewable energy and oil, agree that it is a very cost-intensive plan to install a
larger aquaculture multi-use installation, which needs to be scaled up from scientific
pilot scale to a size that simulates commercial production. It is therefore necessary
to pool national and international expertise and resources to co-finance an offshore
14 Epilogue—Pathways Towards Sustainable Ocean Food Production
399
the umbrella of two larger calls for proposals described below.
One barrier to multi-use the offshore realm is that different environmental, safety
and regulatory regimes and practices apply to different sectors and to different
national jurisdictions. Furthermore, there is a lack of common understanding of the
nature of operations within different sectors and the feasibility of combining these
in a way that provides mutual benefits. The first proposal call, “Multi-use of the
oceans’ marine space, offshore and near-shore: compatibility, regulations, environmental and legal issues” (BG-03-2016, 2 million Euros per proposal) was started
in November 2016 (e.g. Project No. 17 “MUSES” in Chap. 13). The challenge is to
identify the real and perceived barriers to integration. Therefore, there is a need for
a clear overview of compatibility, regulatory, environmental, safety, societal and
legal issues within the context of the maritime spatial planning directive and how
they impact on the combining of different marine and maritime activities (EU
2016).
In the second proposal call, it is postulated that technological research and
innovations are needed to reduce risks for operators and investors. Therefore, the
call “Multi-use of the oceans marine space, offshore and near-shore: Enabling
technologies” (BG-04-2017, 8 million Euros per proposal) was initiated in October
2016. The scope of the proposals should cover aspects with regard to combinations
of innovative, cost-effective technologies and methods including automation and
remote monitoring technologies, flexible structures and facilities in order to test
concepts of multi-use platforms leading to pilot demonstration phases. Tests of the
sustainable operability of co-located maritime activities around coastal or deep sea
environments as well as health and safety issues associated with multi-use marine
platforms should be addressed as well as environmental and economic viability and
societal acceptance (EU 2016). However, as this call more or less covers a vast
collection of emerging issues (offshore to nearshore, technology, economy, environmental issues, social issues, and many suggested multi-use combinations, etc.)
we recommend to focus on the most promising multi-uses resulting from previous
nation and international projects.
14.5 Recommendations to Accelerate Development
in the Future
14.5.1 International Test Station
Scientists working in the field of offshore platforms, either for marine bio-resources
or renewable energy and oil, agree that it is a very cost-intensive plan to install a
larger aquaculture multi-use installation, which needs to be scaled up from scientific
pilot scale to a size that simulates commercial production. It is therefore necessary
to pool national and international expertise and resources to co-finance an offshore
14 Epilogue—Pathways Towards Sustainable Ocean Food Production
399