Where renewables fit in our crowded seas

How can we encourage collaboration and reduce conflict between sectors in our crowded seas?

Ahead of our Marine Conference and Exhibition on September 26, Scottish Renewables Policy Manager Stephanie Conesa reflects on a European project that aims to make the most of our seaspace.

This summer, MUSES called me to Venice.

The Multi-Use in European Seas (MUSES) project is a two-year Horizon 2020 funded project co-ordinated by Marine Scotland, exploring the opportunities for encouraging collaboration and reducing conflict between sectors in the five EU sea basins (Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea and Eastern Atlantic).

The second workshop, Embracing Opportunities – Ocean Multi-Use Action Plan Development, was held in Venice on 27th June and hosted by Thetis SpA.
When I received the invitation to participate in this workshop I didn’t hesitate.

The somewhat macabre, clichéd advice I’d always received about Venice is to go and see it “before it’s too late.”

The threat of climate change swallowing up such a beautiful and unique gem of a place was a visible reminder of why I do what I do at Scottish Renewables.

Moving through the bustling crowds and watching gondolas, vaporetti, and water taxis zip past each other through the narrow canals, it became clear that this was the perfect place to hold a workshop that aims to discuss how increases in global population and a high demand for space can create conflicts between users, but also the opportunity to work together to create a more harmonious coexistence.

The workshop brought together experts from across Europe to discuss how combining maritime uses (such as aquaculture, tourism, underwater cultural heritage, environmental protection, renewables and oil and gas) in our constricted seas can lead to more sustainable and efficient use of locations, reducing demand and potentially offering socio-economic and environmental benefits.

Each combination of uses discussed came with its own challenges and considerations, and some seemed more achievable than others: not many of my fellow workshop attendees, for example, thought combining tourism and offshore renewables would be very popular in the North Sea, but there could be a market for the more intrepid explorer.

In Scotland and the UK, marine and offshore energy developments have successfully been combined with aquaculture, tourism and environmental protection.
The lessons learned from these multi-use projects could provide a valuable data base for other EU sea basins.

As described by Timothy Roberts, MUSES Project Manager at Marine Scotland:

“The project, which will shortly conclude, has been exploring where and how ocean space and resources can be developed to ensure that Blue Growth is taking place in a sustainable manner. In turn, actions for the maritime business community, planning, policy and regulatory agencies, financing bodies - including EU programmes - and research institutions will be identified.”

The multi-use concept offers an innovative solution to a problem that will become more prevalent as global populations continue to increase.
However, to actualise the benefits of the concept, joint actions will be needed.