Refletindo os multiusos nos Mares Europeus

A secção UAciência é coordenada pelo Professor Universitário Armindo Rodrigues.[…] O Ordenamento do Espaço Marítimo (OEM) é um processo de análise da localização espacial e da distribuição temporal das atividades humanas em áreas marinhas, de forma a atingir objetivos ecológicos, económicos e sociais. O ordenamento destas atividades constitui um pilar fundamental da politica marítima da União Europeia. Em Portugal, a Estratégia Nacional para o Mar, para o período de 2013-2020, procura o desenvolvimento sustentável dos sectores económicos relacionados com o mar, ao promover o desenvolvimento dos usos marítimos e a compatibilização entre os mesmos, principalmente os estratégicos do Crescimento Azul: energia, aquacultura, turismo, recursos minerais marinhos e biotecnologia azul. […].info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Is Demonstrating the Concept of Multi-Use Too Soon for the North Sea?:Barriers and Opportunities from a Stakeholder Perspective

Multi-use (MU) has been promoted as a viable approach to the effective planning and mitigation of user-conflicts in the marine realm. Despite several research and pilot projects demonstrating the approach’s feasibility and benefits, commercially viable MU applications remain patchy and few. Further, MU is neither systematically applied nor purposively planned for even in the imminent event of incompatible and conflicting use of marine space. This paper seeks to identify barriers and opportunities for mainstreaming MU based on desktop study and iterative stakeholder consultation. The findings reveal that the MU concept was frequently framed as ‘co-location’ or ‘co-existence’ and aimed toward mitigating conflict among users. Practice was ahead of theory with little attention to synergistic and efficiency aspects. Barriers for MU application include shortcomings in legislation, sectoral thinking, and burdensome administrative procedures. The main opportunity lies in creating a conducive policy environment where MU risks and transaction costs become low and competitive, respectively. Solutions at the sea basin and national level, upon which further MU application can be anchored, are proposed

Multi-use of the sea:A wide array of opportunities from site-specific cases across Europe

<p><b>Comparison of MU Combinations:</b> (Top) ranked by Drivers—Highest to lowest, and (Bottom) ranked by Added Values—Highest to lowest.</p

Strategic scenarios for maritime spatial planning in an European outermost region—The case of the Azores

Highlights: • Importance of experts and stakeholders in the process of scenarios-building. • Experts’ key role refining objectives, framing scenarios and developing storylines. • A balanced statements selection reflects the composition of stakeholder categories. • Stakeholders provide relevant and unique contribution for the final outcome. • Geographic isolation of the islands shapes the results of scenarios and storylines. • Participatory scenarios-building results in formulation of policy recommendations. Abstract: The Maritime Spatial Planning process plans towards a desired future (Vision/Goal). Such vision is usually an integration of various aspirations from different stakeholders and sectors that depend on the related policy/governance framework. In this sense, a tool such as scenario-building is of paramount importance to MSP once it helps decision-makers visualize the future that might unfold due to specific the actions/policies needed to make such a future more likely to happen. Along these lines, this work presents the methodology and results of the scenario building process developed and applied in the Macaronesia Maritime Spatial Planning (MarSP) project, for the Autonomous Region of Azores. The methodology is structured in four main steps: (i) setting MSP objectives based on policy review and following stakeholders’ inputs; (ii) identifying key objectives after consultation with regional experts; (iii) developing scenario storylines; and (iv) balancing across scenarios based on feedback from stakeholders’ engagement. Three main pre-established scenarios were developed, balancing the pillars of sustainable development, namely: “Blue Society,” “Blue Growth”, and “Blue Development”. In a consultative and participatory process, the three scenarios were later modified and validated, integrating the preferences of stakeholders, being the most voted (preferred) scenario “Blue Development”. Results highlight the importance of applying a participatory approach to scenario building in MSP to understand the preferences and expectations of different stakeholders. The methodology can be relevant and adjustable to other regions, tailored to specific settings, in support of decision making towards an adaptive MSP process

Island geography shaping maritime space in Macaronesia

This paper explores how geography shapes human uses of the maritime space along the Atlantic archipelagic territories of Macaronesia, a biogeographical region that includes the archipelagos of the Azores, Madeira, Selvagens, Canary Islands and Cape Verde. The way specific geographic characteristics of these islands influence and even determine maritime uses and activities is analyzed in a three-layers ap proach in the following order: socio economic analysis, sectorial analysis and uses and activities analysis. The biophysical and geographical characteristics of each archipelago will be considered throughout the analysis, highlighting the common aspects and peculiarities between each region. After a comprehensive overview of the main economic activities, the discussion suggests that certain specificities need to be taken into account in maritime spatial planning processes when planning and managing human uses at sea, to promote the sustainable development of local communities, particularly in archipelagic regions

Expert knowledge-based co-development of scenarios for maritime spatial planning in the Northeast Atlantic

Scenarios constitute narratives or storylines that reasonably describe how the future is likely to unfold. The usefulness of scenarios in Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is now recognised within policy and research, with many institutions urging the development of likely trajectories in the future state of the marine environment and space. However, little progress exists in the actual development and application of actual scenario building approaches. This paper presents the methodology and results of such an approach developed within the framework of the “Geographical and Political Scenarios in Maritime Spatial Planning for the Azores and North Atlantic (GPS Azores)” project. A scenario-building approach for MSP in the area is developed and future scenarios’ storylines are formulated through the active engagement of regional experts. Outcomes from the analysis enable identifying the major risks and opportunities in the management and use of marine space and key maritime sectors, under different scenarios. Three storylines are developed representing distinct trajectories in the use and governance of marine space: (i) Nature at Work; (ii) Business-as-usual; and (iii) Blue Development. Final storylines are the outcome of intense experts’ engagement throughout the scenario-building exercise, stressing the usefulness of such participative approaches. Results can assist policymakers in the context of an adaptive and participatory MSP approach. The methodology can be tailored to other regions, while results can be revisited and adapted as new information and knowledge emerge.The study was conducted in the framework of the Geographical and Political Scenarios in Maritime Spatial Planning for the Azores and North Atlantic (GPS Azores) project (Ref: ACCORES-01-0145-FEDER-002 GPS Azores), financed by FEDER (85%) and with funds from the Azores 2020 Operational Programme (15%). The authors would like to thank Mike Phillips who provided input in an early version of the scenario-building exercise.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio