Greek Pilot

Business Brief

Publication: Case Study
Citation: Lago, Manuel and Youssef Zaiter 2023: Greek Pilot. M3.1 Business Brief of the Horizon 2020 project "Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities" (UNITED).

The pilot project in the Greek Aegean deals with the combination of aquaculture and tourism. The aim is to integrate an aquaculture farm into diving tours in order to turn the farm into a tourist attraction and reduce local opposition to aquaculture. It is located near Cape Sounio, Attiki, Greece.

Legal and environmental factors: Challenges and opportunities

This business brief of the UNITED project discusses the legal framework and environmental impacts of the project. Legal uncertainties, particularly in relation to marine protection, permitting and marine spatial planning are highlighted. Environmental factors, such as the impact of aquaculture on water quality and biodiversity, as well as the impact of climate change on both activities, are also considered.

Economic perspectives and SWOT analysis

A comprehensive economic analysis, including a SWOT analysis, highlights the financial potential and challenges of the project and offers recommendations for the future. Strengths include the well-established partners and their attractive services, while weaknesses include legal uncertainties and dependence on local and global economic conditions. Opportunities lie in cost savings and the development of new activities, while uncertainties in legislation and the impact of the coronavirus are seen as threats.

Combining aquaculture and tourism: a project in the Greek Aegean Sea

Assessment Framework to Determine the Economic Feasibility of Multi-use Platforms

Year 2021

Publication:Report

The UNITED project report "Business Analysis of UNITED Pilots" provides a detailed business analysis of the various pilot projects. This analysis includes an assessment of the economic viability, SWOT and PESTEL analyses as well as a review of the financial aspects of the projects. The aim of the report is to assess the financial attractiveness and feasibility of multi-use concepts in European marine areas, with a particular focus on the synergies and challenges arising from the combination of different maritime activities.

Business Analysis of United Pilots

Year 2022

Publication:Report

The UNITED project report "Current Environmental Assessment and Status of the Pilots" provides a comprehensive overview of the current environmental assessments and status of various pilot projects. These projects included a variety of multi-use concepts in the marine environment, including the combination of offshore wind energy with shellfish and kelp cultivation, offshore wind and solar energy, shallow estuarine aquaculture and kelp cultivation, and tourism. The report looks at the environmental aspects of these pilot projects and assesses their environmental impacts, regulatory requirements and existing environmental assessment results and monitoring capacity.

Revision of the Current Environmental Assessment and Status of Pilots

Year 2020

Publication:Report

This UNITED project report deals with the development of an environmental assessment framework to determine the ecological feasibility of multi-use platforms. This assessment framework is based on the practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and applies an integrated cumulative effects assessment (iCEA) in the scoping and identification phases of key impacts. The report aims to assess the added environmental value ("benefits") of multi-use in the marine environment.

Assessment Framework to Determine Ecological Feasibility of Multi-Use Platforms

Year 2021

Publication:Report

The report addresses training and capacity building to ensure safe and efficient ocean multi-use operations, with a focus on societal engagement and educational objectives.

Curriculum for Offshore Course, Guideline, and Learning Manual

Year 2021

Publication:Case Study

This UNITED project business brief discusses the legal framework and environmental impacts of a project in the German North Sea that combines offshore wind energy and aquaculture, including the laws and regulations that apply to offshore installations in the German Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

German Pilot

Business Brief

Year 2023

Publication:Case Study

This Business Brief of the UNITED project examines the legal and environmental aspects of a project that successfully combines offshore wind energy production with innovative tourism activities.

Danish Pilot

Business Brief

Year 2023

Publication:Case Study

This UNITED project business brief examines the legal and environmental aspects of a Belgian project using offshore wind farms in the North Sea for the cultivation of flat oysters and seaweed. Particular attention is paid to environmental benefits, such as improved water quality and biodiversity, as well as potential challenges, including permitting procedures.

Belgian Pilot

Business Brief

Year 2023

Publication:Policy Brief

Cover page of a policy brief dated September 19th, 2023, titled 'POLICY BRIEF: Assessment on the added value of Marine Multi-Use within UNITED pilots'. The background features a soft-focus image of wind turbines at sea. The EU flag is present with a disclaimer about funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme. Authors Manuel Lago - ECOLOGIC, Youssef Zaiter - ACTeon, and editors Ivana Lukic, Agnese Cosulich from Submariner Network for Blue Growth EWIV are credited.

As competition for, and interest in, use of ocean space increases, a need for management arises to optimize activity in marine areas. This policy brief provides a comprehensive consideration of the economic efficiency of marine multi-use (MU) by weighing the pros and cons of individual use options against potential MU combinations.

Assessment on the Added Value of Marine Multi-Use within UNITED Pilots

Year 2023

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Manuel Lago

Youssef Zaiter (ACTeon)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

European Commission, Research Executive Agency (REA), International
Year: 2023
Dimension: 6 pp.
Project: Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities (UNITED)
Project ID: 33000
Keywords: Coastal + Marine

Economics

Aquaculture, diving tourism, technology maturity, Greek marine spatial planning, climate change, water quality, biodiversity, coronavirus, legal uncertainties

Cape Sounio, Attiki, Greece, Aegean Sea

SWOT analysis, environmental characterization, technology readiness level (TRL) assessment, legal analysis

Further Links

PublicationCase StudyGerman Pilot

The pilot project in the German North Sea explores the possibilities of multi-use in the North Sea, in particular the combination of offshore wind energy and aquaculture, in order to explore new ways of using the sea sustainably. The project objectives are to develop,... Read more

Lago, Manuel and Youssef Zaiter 2023: German Pilot. M3.1 Business Brief of the Horizon 2020 project "Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities" (UNITED).

PublicationCase StudyDanish Pilot

A Danish pilot project successfully combines offshore wind energy production with innovative tourism activities. The project, developed in 2000 near the Middelgrunden island, combines the production of offshore wind energy with tourism activities, such as guided tours... Read more

Lago, Manuel and Youssef Zaiter 2023: Danish Pilot. M3.1 Business Brief of the Horizon 2020 project "Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities" (UNITED).

PublicationCase StudyBelgian Pilot

An innovative project in the Belgian North Sea uses offshore wind farms to grow flat oysters and seaweed. The aim is to efficiently combine renewable energies and sustainable marine management. Legal and environmental factors: Challenges and opportunities This... Read more

Lago, Manuel and Youssef Zaiter 2023: Belgian Pilot. M3.1 Business Brief of the Horizon 2020 project "Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities" (UNITED).