Perceived concerns and possible management strategies for governing ‘wind farm–mariculture integration’

In offshore waters of the German North Sea multiple stakeholder activity is increasing in both type and intensity. Newcomers such as wind farms make for additional claims and exclude, due to current legal constraints, other sectors, such as traditional fisheries. In this context, integrating marine aquaculture with designated wind farm areas might provide chances to combine two industries in the frame of a multiple-use concept. This paper takes up concerns and possible management framework requirements as expressed through interviews with the wind farm industry and the mussel harvesting sector when inquiring about such a multiple-use setting. The article closes with a discussion on two co-management strategies that might be appropriate for governing potential interacting wind farm–mariculture activities.