GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules Maritime Institute University Gent Jan Schrijvers CHAPTER TWO DECISION RULES 1 INTRODUCTION TO DECISION RULES One f the main utcmes f the wrkshp that was carried ut within the GAUFRE framewrk (January 2004, see chapter n Expert Wrkshp), was the cnclusin that decisin rules are needed within the cntext f marine spatial planning. Decisin rules need t be cnsidered fr each sectr in rder t identify all the ptentially allwable uses within the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea, These decisin rules shuld be perating principles fr the best ptin and the mst ideal lcatin fr each sectr related use. They shuld be based n a general strategic visin (see Synthesis and Visin) and shuld take plitical issues int accunt. The decisin rules cannt be islated frm intersectral interests, cnflicts and synergies. These interactins shuld be taken int accunt as far as practicable when identifying decisin rules fr each sectr. The cnsideratin f intersectrial interactins shuld g beynd the marine realm and als cncentrate n links with land use. The types f decisin rules that might be applied t the different sectrs are varied and encmpass: Legislative requirements: These requirements are n a single use level such as EIA r n a multiple use level. Examples are as f right rules and permit and licensing systems Plitical and plicy requirements n a single and multiple use level Scientific requirements leading t quantitative decisin rules based n the sciecnmic state f the activity and n the state f the envirnment Existing rules shuld be used as a starting pint fr the drafting f new decisin rules. Use shuld then be made f public participatin, expert knwledge and relevant literature. The cnsultative prcess between gvernment, different sectrs and the public is a very imprtant tl fr btaining sectr specific data and reslving cnflict. The aim f the planning prcess shuld be t identify prblems and then frmulate pssible slutins that might be implemented thrugh the use f decisin rules. This prcess therefre fllws 3 steps: Define clear gals and bjectives per sectr i.e. utline the decisin rules per sectr in interactin with ther sectrs (see abve) Define the type and the reslutin f data needed: Decisin rules as generated under step 1 shuld lead t the identificatin f required infrmatin. These data gaps then need t be addressed by fcused research. Immediate research pririties shuld directly cntribute t the planning prcess. Lng term research pririties shuld be targeted at finetuning plan revisins at a later stage Make a management plan with different scenaris using a multiple bjectives analysis in rder t balance the bjectives f the decisin rules fr different sectrs. By the time the actual planning prcess has started, decisin rules shuld nly require minr changes. Having gne thrugh the whle prcess f analysis and synthesis, an array f pen decisin rules was prduced in rder t guide the final stakehlder wrkshp. Since they shuld be based n general strategic visins, we decided t take the extreme scenaris as develped under Synthesis and Visin and use them as starting pint fr the develpment f the decisin rules. Five types f spatial uses in the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea were chsen as key uses since they are expected t be mst imprtant 360
GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules in the actual design and dynamics f future spatial demand. Other uses are als dealt with, but primarily in terms f their relatinship t the 5 key uses. 2 OPEN DECISION RULES BASED ON SYNTHESIS AND VISION 2.1 MARINE PROTECTED AREAS Is the allcatin f ne r mre MPAs necessary in the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea? What shuld be its purpse? The experience f nature? Prtectin and regeneratin f nature? Prtectin and regeneratin f certain species and cmmunities? Shuld these MPAs be flexible r exclusive r a cmbinatin based n their aim? Where shuld these MPAs ideally be allcated? Within r utside the 3nm zne depending n the recreatinal pressure? Within r utside the castal zne (abut 25km) depending n the recent knwledge f natural value and bilgical valuatin? Fcus n the Westhek? Fcus n the castal Vlaamse Banken? Fcus n the Vlakte van de Raan? Shuld they be cntinuus with prtected areas n land? D shipping rutes have pririty t MPAs? D we need a few big areas r several small? Specific target values fr Prtectin and regeneratin f nature Prtectin and regeneratin f a specific species r cmmunity Lcatin Number Size and fragmentatin 2.2 WIND TURBINES Is the intrductin f wind turbine parks (WTP) necessary t meet the demand fr green energy, which is 3500 mw r 10% f the ttal electricity by 2020? Shuld these WTPs be flexible r exclusive in ther wrds shuld they allw fr verlap with ther user functins such as aquaculture, fisheries? Where shuld these WTPs ideally be allcated? Within r utside the 3nm zne depending n the recreatinal pressure? Within r utside the castal zne (abut 25km) depending n the need t: keep the hrizn as pen as pssible? limit the transprt distance f energy t the cast? 361
GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules D shipping rutes always have pririty t WTPs? Shuld they be installed in lines fllwing the cnturs f the sand flats and is this mre related t a scietal value? Shuld they be mbile t prevent disturbance f natural dynamics f the system? Weighing against ther ecnmic users n the basis f: spawning, nursery and feeding areas fr fish and thus fr fisheries? etc What shuld be the size f these WTPs? A cntributin f 10% by 2020 asks fr a ttal surface f WTPs at sea f abut 350 km² Shuld mre than 350km² be allcated? Shuld exactly 350 km² be allcated leading t a cmplete cntributin f 10% at sea? Shuld less than 350 km² be allcated leading t a demand fr ther surces r wind energy n land in rder t reach the 10% value? Pssible reasns fr this scenari culd include: T many WTPs at sea disturb the structure f the marine landscape? WTPs disturb the natural value f the sea? If less, in what prprtins? What shape shuld these WTPs ideally have? One big area encmpassing the ttal desired surface? Several smaller areas f which the sum equals the ttal desired surface? Uni r bidimensinal WTPs depending n The scenic structure? The return value? Specific target values fr 10% rule against 2020 r mre Ttal surface f WTPs => less r mre than 350 km² Lcatin Shape 2.3 SAND AND GRAVEL EXTRACTION Is the allcatin f cncessin areas fr sand and gravel extractin necessary t meet the demand fr sand and gravel? What shuld be their purpse?? Fcus n beach replenishment and castal defense? Fcus n industrial use? Fcus n land extensin such as harbur islands and airprt islands? Shuld these areas be managed in a sustainable r exclusive way? Taking int accunt the natural carrying capacity f the extracted area? Making use f a rtatinal system n the basis f The dynamics f the mrphlgy? Fisheries? Where shuld these areas ideally be allcated? Within r utside the 3nm zne depending n the recreatinal pressure? 362
GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules Within r utside the strip that is being used fr castal defense? Within r utside the castal zne (abut 25km) depending n the recent knwledge f natural value? Thse areas in which the ecnmically mst viable sand and gravel fractins are t be fund? On r ff the tps f the sand flats? D shipping rutes always have pririty t these areas? What shuld be the size f these areas? Large areas that cmpletely meet the ecnmic demand fr sand and gravel? Sufficiently t just meet the demand fr beach replenishment and castal defense? Sufficiently t take the natural values and bilgical valuatin int accunt? Specific target values fr Maximum vlume in m³ extracted sand/gravel per m² en per time unit Minimal surface f cncessin areas and/r actively extracted areas Rtatinal systems => frequency and surface f clsed and pen areas Lcatin 2.4 FISHERIES Is the safeguarding f fishing grunds in the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea necessary? What shuld be the purpse? Safeguarding the traditinal sectr that is fcused n scial, culinary and recreatinal value? The lcal cnsumptin f fish? The natinal cnsumptin f fish? Internatinal cnsumptin? Shuld these fishing grunds be sustainable r exclusive? Exclusive fisheries in the richest fishing grunds (s called fishing fields)? Taking int accunt the natural carrying capacity f the fished area? Searching alternative and eclgically mre acceptable fishing techniques? Making use f a rtatinal system n the basis f The dynamics f the fish bilgy? The sand and gravel extractin? Where shuld these fishing grunds ideally be allcated? Within r utside the 3nm zne depending n the recreatinal pressure? Within r utside the castal zne (abut 25km) depending n the recent knwledge f natural value and bilgical valuatin? Variatin in lcatin (distance t cast, depth, west vs. east) t generate variatin in catch? On r ff the tps, slpes r channels f the sand flats? Everywhere except n the Paardenmarkt and in the WTPs D shipping rutes always have pririty t these fishing grunds? Specific target values fr Minimal surface f fishing grunds 363
GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules Maximum intensity and catch per unit effrt in these fishing grunds Rtatinal systems => frequency and surface f clsed and pen areas Lcatin 2.5 TOURISM Are turism and recreatin necessary? What shuld be the purpse? Imprtance fr recreatin and welfare f the ppulatin? Imprtance fr experiencing nature? Ecnmic imprtance? Hw shuld znes fr turism and recreatin be develped?? Sft and/r hard recreatin? With restrictins? Only sft recreatin? Hard recreatin limited in Time? => seasnal Space? => rtatinal systems Are these restrictins dependent n The impact n the natural value? The impact n the natural dynamics f the ecsystem? The impact n the ecnmic functining? The impact n shipping? Other recreatinal aspects t render the scenic experience ptimal (excursins, cruises, diving, recreatinal islands at sea )? Shuld these types be mixed within the same zne r shuld they be spread ver different lcatins? Where shuld turism and recreatin ideally be allcated? Exclusively in the castal strip n land (hinterland) as well as at sea hence within the 3nm zne with a fcus n the cultural backgrund? Within r utside the 3nm zne? Landing nly at certain lcatins f the castal strip? Sft recreatin (swimming) in exclusive MPAs? Sft and hard recreatin in flexible MPAs with restrictins fr sft and hard recreatin? In time? In space? Spread ver the entire Belgian part f the Nrth Sea D shipping rutes always have pririty t turism and recreatin? What shuld be size f these areas? Small limited areas pssibly verlapping the exclusive and/r flexible MPAs Large znes pssible verlapping the castal strip r the deeper znes at sea Spread ver the entire Belgian part f the Nrth Sea? Specific target values fr Minimal surface fr turism and recreatin 364
GAUFRE: Twards a spatial structure plan fr the Belgian part f the Nrth Sea INTEGRATION Chapter 2: Decisin Rules Fr sft recreatin Fr hard recreatin Rtatinal systems => time and space Lcatin 3 OPEN DECISION RULES USED FOR THE STAKEHOLDER WORKSHOP These pen decisin rules were used as a basis fr a cncise and fcused listing f decisin rules cvering all relevant uses and all aspects f these uses. Since this list was therefre ging t be used during debates and wrk discussins the fllwing guidelines were set: simple and t the pint multiple chice with limited degree f persnal input answers shuld be sufficient t guide a visin r scenari as a prduct f public input The actual wrkshp and its utcmes are summarised in the chapter n Stakehlder wrkshp. 365