Multi-use as a basis for a sustainable blue economy
Within the scope of the eMSP NBSR project, we discuss the future of the sustainable blue economy in the North Sea and Baltic Sea region. To do that, we regularly organise so-called Communities of Practice or CoPs.
We gathered in Stockholm on 19 September to discuss implementation of multi-use and how to set up a Maripark. This provided interesting information to finalise our Policy Brief on multi-use (scheduled for early next year).
Conclusions
The success of developing a sustainable blue economy requires an overall vision of the future of our oceans and seas. Multi-use should be the basic principle for dealing with the available space at sea and a Maripark could be the solution.
We do not need more rules, but a clear framework in which the development of a multitude of activities in the same area becomes standard. We propose within the eMSP NBSR project some practical solutions to do so.
Discussions within the community of practice were very lively and the output certainly enriches our insights. A Policy Brief with policy advice and recommendations is coming in the beginning of 2024 – stay tuned!
Download the report of the CoP meeting
Contributions
We would like to thank DG Mare (Pauline CAUMONT) for sharing the EU insights as well as all other stakeholders who engaged in conversation on sustainable blue economy and finding a balance in the energy, food and nature transitions through multi-use, namely:
- Jesse Verhalle (Marine attaché (Maritime Spatial Planning) at the Belgian Federal Public Service for Health, Food Chain Safety and the Environment);
- Jan Schmidtbauer Crona (@The Swedish Agency for Marine and Water Management);
- Emil Gejrot (Nordic Innovation); and
- Laura Pietilä (Varsinais-Suomen liitto - Regional Council of Southwest Finland).
In addition, we would like to express our gratitude to all experts joining our panel and to all participants for their fruitful participation, making this Community of Practice a success.
Last but not least, many thanks to Marijn Rabaut and Kinnie De Beule (Blue Cluster), Nathalie Scheidegger (Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality), and Nico Buytendijk and Marjoleine Karper (Netherlands Enterprise Agency) for the smooth organisation of this event.
