In collaboration with The Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic, Nordic Innovation organized a roundtable to discuss the establishment of multi-use parks in the Nordic region. The meeting took place on 16 August and those invited were representatives from academia, ocean industries and government agencies.
Marine multi-use platforms are defined as when two or more marine business activities take place simultaneously in the same area or on the same physical platform. It can involve sharing the same services, as for example operations, surveillance, or maintenance, or sharing the same physical platform as a wind turbine at the top of an aquaculture installation.
Need for proper planning and holistic thinking
The aim of the meeting was to discuss what it takes to establish multi-use parks in the Nordics. How do we ensure that the project has a positive impact on nature and how do we ensure profitability?
There was a general agreement that with proper planning and holistic thinking, multi-use at sea can both be cost efficient and have a positive impact on the climate. The participants also discussed topics such as the development of frameworks and business models, current learning points and existing frameworks and challenges around co-location.
“By embracing multi-use at sea within in a circular business environment we want to unlock the full potential of our oceans, by simultaneously fostering economic prosperity, improving the health of our oceans and pave the way for a brighter future for humanity,” says Thordur Reynisson, Head of Program at Nordic Innovation.
Main key takeaways from the discussion
Sharing of existing data: Collecting data about the ocean is important, but equally important is sharing existing data. There is a lack of functional data sharing systems that communicate efficiently with each other and incentives for sharing between stakeholders.
Alignment with existing agreements: When new frameworks, regulations and business models are developed, it is important that they align with existing nature and climate agreements. One alternative could be to create specific conditions or modify current ones to include nature positivity.
Include the local population: Establishment of multi-use at sea should benefit the local population. The ripple effects must be evident on land, and the local community should be included from the inception phase of any projects.
According to Silje Elde, Project Manager at The Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic, multi-use platforms at sea are a part of the future:
“Establishing a multi-use site at sea can optimize spatial utilization and mitigate conflicts among different user groups. Navigating the complexities of multi-use at sea poses challenges, yet we strongly believe that this concept is part of the future of effective ocean management. It also has the potential to make future business models more sustainable.”
Participants:
Mainstream Renewable Power, Troms Kraft, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, Norwegian Mapping Authority, Utsira municipality, University of Bergen, UiT The Arctic University of Norway, Renewables Norway, DNV, Fiskebåt (Fishing vessel operators' association), Norwegian Coastal Administration, SINTEF Ocean, Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, Institute of Marine Research (IMR), Norwegian Environment Agency, Arctic Economic Council, Gassnova SF, Norwegian Fishermen's Association, WWF World Wildlife Fund and Centre for the Ocean and the Arctic at UiT.
Background
The roundtable was a part of the Sustainable Ocean Economy program which aims to strengthen Nordic ocean-based industries by promoting cross-border collaboration and by creating new opportunities for growth and innovation in the region.
