Maritime Spatial Planning supported by systematic site selection: Applying Marxan for offshore wind power in the western Baltic Sea

PLoS One. 2018 Mar 15;13(3):e0194362. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194362. eCollection 2018.

Abstract

The development of offshore wind energy and other competing interests in sea space are a major incentive for designating marine and coastal areas for specific human activities. Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) considers human activities at sea in a more integrated way by analysing and designating spatial and temporal distributions of human activities based on ecological, economic and social targets. However, specific tools supporting spatial decisions at sea incorporating all relevant sectors are rarely adopted. The decision support tool Marxan is traditionally used for systematic selection and designation of nature protection and conservation areas. In this study, Marxan was applied as a support tool to identify suitable sites for offshore wind power in the pilot area Pomeranian Bight / Arkona Basin in the western Baltic Sea. The software was successfully tested and scenarios were developed that support the sites indicated in existing national plans, but also show options for alternative developments of offshore wind power in the Pomeranian Bight / Arkona Basin area.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Baltic States
  • Computational Biology / methods*
  • Conservation of Natural Resources / methods*
  • Ecosystem
  • Geography
  • Humans
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Wind*

Grants and funding

This study was supported by the projects BaltSeaPlan (Introducing Maritime Spatial Planning in the Baltic Sea) and BALTSPACE (Towards sustainable planning of Baltic marine space). BaltSeaPlan was funded by the Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007–2013 (part financed by the European Union). BALTSPACE has received funding from BONUS (Art 185) funded jointly from the European Union’s Seventh Programme for research, technological development and demonstration, and from the Innovation Fund Denmark. BONUS: https://www.bonusportal.org/; Innovation Fund Denmark: https://innovationsfonden.dk/en; European Union's Baltic Sea Region Programme 2007-2013: http://eu.baltic.net/.