Exploring Multi-Use potentials in the Euro-Mediterranean sea space

Area of Science:

• Marine spatial planning
• Sustainable resource management
• Blue Growth initiatives

Background:

• European seas face rapid development and increasing demand for marine resources and space.
• Existing spatial planning struggles to balance anthropogenic demands, necessitating innovative solutions.
• The concept of Multi-Use (MU) is emerging to address spatial conflicts and promote sustainable Blue Growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and analyze the potential of Multi-Use (MU) in the Euro-Mediterranean sea basin.
• To evaluate opportunities and challenges of ten existing and potential MU combinations across key maritime sectors.
• To provide recommendations for fostering MU development in the region.

Main Methods:

• An analytical framework employing a mixed-method approach was utilized.
• Analysis focused on eight EU countries within the Euro-Mediterranean sea basin.
• Ten MU combinations across tourism, renewable energy, and Oil & Gas sectors were assessed.

Main Results:

• Tourism-driven MU combinations, such as pescatourism, exhibit the highest development potential.
• Emerging MU potentials include Floating Offshore Wind energy with aquaculture in the Gulf of Lion.
• Re-use of decommissioned Oil & Gas platforms in the Adriatic Sea presents another significant MU opportunity.

Conclusions:

• MU holds significant potential for sustainable marine resource exploitation and space allocation in the Euro-Mediterranean.
• Geospatial distribution, policy, socio-economic, technical, and environmental factors are critical for MU implementation.
• Targeted actions are recommended to advance MU development and support Blue Growth in the region.