An MCASS tool for enhanced offshore aquaculture site selection and successful licencing acquisition

Recognizing the difficulty associated with aquaculture licensing in Ireland, and the vast opportunities Irish offshore and nearshore waters offer for seaweed cultivation, we explore a data-based, intelligent approach to marine planning and license acquisition. The purpose of this paper is to provide a summary of the current aquaculture licensing process, historical licensing challenges and looking towards the future, how the use of an innovative spatial planning tool can encourage the successful integration of seaweed cultivation and Offshore Renewable Energy (ORE) operations. A Multi-Criteria Analysis Site Selection (MCASS) GIS tool specifically designed to identify, analyse and score the suitability of aquaculture sites is described here and its potential to promote the collocation of seaweed farming and ORE platforms is highlighted. We discuss how this customizable tool helps to create a vision of a marine-scape in which ORE and aquaculture operations can co-exist side by side with the infrastructure associated with offshore power generation, along with its ability mitigate against some of the most common licensing roadblocks.