Speed Presentation 2024 Australian Marine Sciences Association Annual Meeting combined with NZMSS

Mapping the global co-location potential of offshore wind energy and aquaculture production (#193)

Jackson Stockbridge 1 , Christopher J Brown 2 , Caitie D Kuempel 1
  1. Griffith University, Nathan, QLD, Australia
  2. Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Tasmania, TAS, Australia

The ocean’s contribution to the global economy is projected to double to US$3 trillion by 2030. The demands to transition from coal to renewable energy, and to feed a growing global population, are driving heavy investment into offshore wind farms and aquaculture. Co-location of offshore wind and aquaculture is a potential solution for reducing competition for ocean space between these industries, however feasibility challenges remain. Here, we combine existing data on bivalve, fish, and seaweed aquaculture production potential with wind energy generation potential to map sites suitable for co-location of both industries. We then apply this approach to a case study of the Bass Strait; a hot spot of ocean activity and the target of significant offshore wind development in Australia. Globally, the greatest opportunities for co-location are found in Argentina, Australia, and Russia. Australia has the highest environmentally suitable ocean space (37,909 km2; 0.005% of its EEZ) for both offshore wind and finfish aquaculture production, including 6,324 km2 (5.7% of available ocean space) within Bass Strait. Our findings provide an initial assessment of potential trade-offs and opportunities for offshore wind and aquaculture co-location across scales, which can be used to inform marine spatial planning decisions.