Mapping the global co-location potential of offshore wind energy and aquaculture production

Abstract

Co-location of offshore industries has potential to mitigate the growing congestion in the oceans and support the use of ocean resources for ecologically sustainable economic growth and improved livelihoods (i.e., the blue economy). Despite the benefits, questions remain over the feasibility of co-location due to regulatory and financial risk concerns. Here, we combine existing data on aquaculture production potential and wind energy production potential to map co-location potential for offshore wind and aquaculture (finfish, bivalve, and seaweed) globally. We then incorporate an existing index of each country's blue economy development capacity to assess areas with the greatest opportunity for co-location. Finally, we assess co-location potential in the Bass Strait, Australia to show how our approach can inform regional-level planning. We found potential for co-location across 395,042 km² of Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) globally for bivalves, 1,337,874 km² for finfish, and 1,143,643 km² for seaweed across 97 countries. Argentina, Australia, and Russia had the largest potential area for co-location, while Uruguay, Lithuania, and Belgium had the largest proportion of their EEZ. Denmark, Canada, and Finland had the largest proportion of potential area for co-location and highest capacity for blue economy development, signifying potential opportunities to be leaders in co-location implementation. Finally, the Bass Strait had high co-location potential for offshore wind and finfish aquaculture, but less for seaweed and bivalve production. Our research provides a high-level assessment of co-location across scales that can be used to streamline planning efforts, capitalise on potential opportunities, reduce risks, and facilitate blue economic growth.