Table 2 Pros and cons expressed by representatives of different stakeholder groups towards suggested “wind farm–mariculture integration” (modified after Michler and Buck 2007; Michler-Cieluch and Kodeih (2008)
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
Combination would increase acceptance of offshore wind farms among population (administration) | Uncertain profitability due to monumental technical requirements for operating mussel and algae cultures in the open sea (administration) |
Additional societal benefit (policy) | Economic feasibility very questionable (fishery) |
Good innovative idea, though many open questions have to be answered in advance (wind energy) | Offshore wind farms are a source of danger for shipping; danger of oil spills (tourism) |
Multi-use of ocean territory reduces claiming of additional areas (tourism) | Lack of in-depth information on impacts; not imaginable at present (policy) |
Additional jobs in the rural region likely (economy) | Lack of “neutral” information (fishery) |
Opens up potentials for research and economic/financial benefit; possibility for international image (research) | Exaggerated synergetic effects should not be interpreted; cultivation of shellfish is not part of a wind farm (economy) |
Initiation of a co-management scheme for the EEZ (research) | The mariculture concept needs to see for itself. Otherwise it does not convince in combination with offshore wind farms (administration) |
Interesting with regard to local gastronomy (tourism) | Loss of traditional fishery activities, e.g. trawl fishery (fishery) |