Aquaculture possibilities in Belgian offshore wind farms

On behalf of the Federal Public Service Environment, Nancy Nevejan (Shells&Valves), Daan Delbare (ILVO) and Brecht Sterchele have written a detailed technical report on aquaculture in wind farms in the Belgian part of the North Sea.

This report provides a more concrete picture of the cultivation of aquatic organisms in Belgian offshore wind farms. Aquaculture is interpreted broadly, and also includes efforts for nature restoration when these contribute to increasing commercial stocks.

The authors have described various scenarios taking into account the boundary conditions and the combination of different cultivation techniques and species. The scenarios not only discuss aquaculture activities, but also population support measures.

A short, non-technical summary of this report was published a few days ago. This document discusses the main findings and conclusions of the research conducted in a more accessible way. Below you will find a number of important takeaways from this report.

• Marine aquaculture has hardly grown in Europe in recent decades (with the exception of salmon farming in Norway) and is, compared to other regions such as Asia, very small;
• Aquaculture activities must comply with the legally established conditions regarding environmental impact (negative environmental impact);
• Aquaculture activities must contribute to achieving a good or improved environmental status (positive environmental impact).

• Fish production is considered an important part of the European drive for greater food security and a protein transition;
• Regarding suitable locations for offshore aquaculture, the importance of multi-use is strongly emphasized;
• At present, aquaculture in offshore wind farms is the most obvious example of multi-use in the Belgian part of the North Sea;
• The expansion of the offshore energy sector to the new Princess Elisabeth zone and the planned repowering of the Eastern zone offer an excellent opportunity for the growing aquaculture sector to explore the offshore areas.