@article{10902/37242,
year = {2025},
url = {https://hdl.handle.net/10902/37242},
abstract = {The expansion of the blue economy requires sustainable solutions for optimizing marine resource use. The multi-use approach, increasingly integrated into Marine Spatial Planning (MSP), foster synergies between sectors such as wind energy and aquaculture. However, its implementation remains limited. This study develops a multi-use assessment framework for floating offshore wind energy and aquaculture, providing a national sectoral perspective to support MSP policy formulation through stakeholder-informed recommendations. The framework consists of three steps: i) technical suitability analysis; ii) evaluation of sectoral perceptions, and iii) SWOT analysis. By integrating technical suitability assessments-including energy production, energy evacuation, species requirements, structural survivability, and operation and maintenance-with stakeholder surveys and workshops, the framework provides a structured basis for advancing policy strategies. Technical analyses indicate significant multi-use potential within the Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone. Floating wind energy emerges as a driving activity in high-energy offshore areas, while aquaculture drives multi-use development in more sheltered zones. Stakeholders recognize economic and operational synergies, betting on the development of symbiotic multi-use in the short term. However, regulatory fragmentation, administrative barriers and environmental impact uncertainties are underscored challenges. The findings emphasize the need for coordinated regulatory frameworks and enhanced cross-sector collaboration to integrate multi-use into national maritime policies. The study provides a decision-support framework for policymakers and industry stakeholders to enhance governance and spatial planning strategies for offshore multi-use development.},
organization = {C.V.C. Weiss is grateful to the Universidad de Cantabria (UC) for the Augusto Gonzalez ´ de Linares and Margarita Salas Grants (POS-UC-2019-06 and RMS-04, respectively). This work is framed in the project “ACUFLOT”, supported by the Biodiversity Foundation of the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge Ministry of Spain and the IHCantabria - Instituto de Hidraulica ´ Ambiental de la Universidad de Cantabria. This contribution has been supported by the MEDAQUAproject (FPCUP WP 2020 (Ares (2020)2271454) and MSP-project (SGA#20/WP2021; Action 2021-2-33) funded by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Defence Industry and Space) and by FPCUP Work Programme.},
publisher = {Elsevier},
publisher = {Marine Policy, 2025, 180, 106786},
title = {Unlocking multi-use synergies: spanish industry perspectives on offshore wind and aquaculture integration},
author = {Da Cruz Weiss, Carlos Vinicius and Ondiviela Eizaguirre, Bárbara and Ramos Manzanos, Elvira and Meneses Aja, Lucia and Guanche García, Raul},
}