Towards large-scale offshore aquaculture in Flanders

In the MARCOS project, Haedes, Brevisco, AtSeaNova and DEME explored the potential of large-scale, offshore aquaculture (LSOA) off the Flemish coast. This included three scenarios: aquaculture as a stand-alone activity in zones close to the coast; integrated with other activities in new offshore zones; and integrated into already operational wind farms.

The aim was to take a next, substantiated step towards future developments and investments. First, the strengths and weaknesses were analysed, the risks assessed and knowledge was gathered to assess the potential. At the end of the project, a roadmap was developed that shows what is needed to maximise the chance of success of LSOA.

Tools

The project partners used Design Thinking Tools to map the complexity of the design. This resulted in a clear overview of the SMART indicators to select future areas for the development of LSOA. The selection is based on a set of species-specific parameters, and thus differ for the cultivation of seaweed (AtSeaNova) and mussels (Brevisco).

The numerical model developed by Haedes provided an answer to the potential of LSOA as an element of resilient coastlines, on the one hand, and provided insights into how LSOA structures and its anchoring systems can be theoretically developed (DEME), on the other. There are sufficient indicators that both mussel and seaweed cultivation has a wave attenuation effect.

With this toolbox, the partners gained sufficient confidence to take further steps in the detailed design of such LSOA structures. To achieve the required knowledge and instruments, in-situ observations and test results at scale combined with smart infrastructure at sea will be necessary.

Future

As the MARCOS project was set up as a feasibility study, the results of the project will be further assessed in follow-up projects. To this end, partners Haedes and Brevisco are joining forces with knowledge partners Flanders Marine Institute (VLIZ), Flanders Research Institute for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (ILVO) and Ghent University, as well as with the companies Hypertechnics and SIOEN. The focus of the follow-up project MARCOS Plus will be:

• Sustainable marine food & marine biotechnology: development of a very reliable instrument to determine the behaviour and service life of large-scale aquaculture installations across the world on the basis of local circumstances.
• Ecosystem approach: monitoring of aquaculture and the immediate impact (micro- and macro-scale) on the environment and potential ecosystem services such as carbon capture, the ability to purify water, and boosting biodiversity in the vicinity of an LSOA.
• Smart seas: digitisation of LSOA and commitment to Industry 4.0, combining nature-enhancing services with digital solutions, as well as integrated monitoring of infrastructure biomass growth and environmental conditions.

Concluding remarks

The economic feasibility of an LSOA in the North Sea and beyond will be best assessed from a “multi-effect” perspective in the future. This should take into account the ecosystem services and the spin-off effects, e.g. positive effects on the food chain and socio-economic effects, as well as the potential contribution to increased biodiversity.

For LSOA to have a future, the positive effects of such an installation must be fully incorporated into the business model. LSOA must also simultaneously commit to digitisation and automation of measurements, infrastructure, harvesting and O&M, becoming a full-fledged part of Industry 4.0.