Assessment Framework to Determine Ecological Feasibility of Multi-Use Platforms

Publication: Report
Citation: Kerkhove, Thomas et al. 2021: Assessment Framework to Determine Ecological Feasibility of Multi-Use Platforms. Deliverable 4.2 of the Horizon 2020 project "Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities" (UNITED).

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.

Integration of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and cumulative effects assessment

The report discusses how the environmental assessment framework developed combines environmental impact assessment (EIA) methods with integrated cumulative effects assessment (iCEA). This approach enables a detailed analysis of the environmental impacts of multi-use platforms. Using seabirds, fish and cephalopods as examples, it is shown how the environmental assessment framework combines the environmental impact assessment (EIA) methods with an integrated cumulative effects assessment (iCEA).

Assessment of the environmental benefits of multi-use concepts

The focus is on assessing the additional environmental benefits that multi-use platforms can provide in the marine environment. The report examines how these platforms contribute to environmental sustainability, using specific marine species and habitats, such as the harbor porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) and gravel beds impacted by activities such as jet trawling, as examples.

Key impacts and feasibility studies

The report describes how the assessment framework is used to identify and assess the key impacts of multi-use platforms on the marine environment. It also provides important insights for future feasibility studies in the field of marine resource use. Examples from the wind and aquaculture industries are used to demonstrate the applicability and challenges of multi-use concepts. In addition, parameters such as light penetration depth and temperature at different depths are discussed for the management of seaweed farms.

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

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.

Year 2023

Language: English
Authorship: Dr. Manuel Lago

Ariel Araujo

Thomas Kerkhove and Steven Degraer (RBINS)

Marcel Rozemeijer, Robbert Jak and Marnix Poelman (WUR)

Annelies Declercq and Nancy Nevejan (UGent)

Alex Ziemba, Rieke Santjer and Elias de Korte (Deltares)

Ivana Lukic (Submariner)

Ioanna Drigkopoulou (Wings)
Funding: European Commission, Directorate-General Research & Innovation (DG Research & Innovation), International

European Commission, Research Executive Agency (REA), International
Year: 2021
Dimension: 59 pp.
Project: Multi-use Offshore Platforms Demonstrators for Boosting Cost-effective and Eco-friendly Production in Sustainable Marine Activities (UNITED)
Project ID: 33000
Table of contents: Click to show full table of contents

1. TABLE OF CONTENTS
2. ACRONYMES
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. INTRODUCTION
4.1. D4.2 situated within the UNITED project – link with other work packages
4.1.1. The UNITED project
4.1.2. Link with other work packages
4.2. The UNITED Assessment Framework
4.3. Environmental assessment tools: EIA and iCEA
4.4. Situating the assessment within European legislation
4.4.1. The Marine Strategy Framework Directive
4.4.2. EU Birds and Habitats Directives
5. APPLICATION OF THE UNITED ASSESSMENT FRAMEWORK
5.1. Early stages
5.1.1. Description of environmental baseline
5.1.2. Description of multi-use project
5.1.3. Scoping for possible environmental impacts
5.1.4. Identification of key possible environmental impacts
5.2. Prediction stages
5.2.1. Prediction of impacts
5.2.2. Assessment of meaningfulness of impacts
5.2.3. Identification of mitigation measures
5.3. Reporting stages
5.3.1. Assessment reporting
5.3.2. Review by stakeholders
5.3.3. Review by competent authorities
5.4. Decision stage
5.5. Monitoring stages
5.5.1. Post-decision monitoring
5.5.2. Audit of prediction and mitigation measures
6. IMPLEMENTATION GUIDANCE
6.1. Relevant scenarios
6.2. First step in the iCEA: Linkage Framework
6.2.1. Listing the actions
6.2.2. Listing the pressures
6.2.3. Listing the ecosystem components
6.2.4. The Linkage Framework in practice
6.3. Second step in the iCEA: Risk Assessment
6.4. Selection criteria
6.4.1. Ecosystem Services
6.4.2. EU Birds and Habitats Directives
6.4.3. International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List
6.4.4. National Legislation
6.5. Added environmental value of multi-use
7. REFERENCES
8. GLOSSARY
9. ANNEX
Keywords: Coastal + Marine

Economics

Ecosystem component, environmental impact assessment, impact chain, spatial/temporal coverage, interactions between algae and aquaculture, mobile species in the ecosystem, ecological added value of multiple use, ecosystem services and impact chains

Baltic Sea, North Sea, Mediterranean Sea, Aegean Sea, Germany, Denmark, Belgium, Greece

stepwise approach for an integrated cumulative effects assessment (iCEA), standardization of selection and measurement parameters, cumulative effects assessment (CEA)