Commissioned by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) on behalf of the Federal Ministry for Housing, Urban Development and Building (BMWSB), the study analyses legal, spatial planning, technical and cross-sectoral framework conditions in order to develop realistic and implementable multi-use concepts.

The focus lies in particular on combinations of offshore wind energy with aquaculture, fisheries, nature restoration and research.

Overview of the Work Packages

WP1 – State of Research
Evaluation of current research and third-party funded projects on ocean multi-use.
→ Read report

WP2 – International Experience
Assessment of multi-use concepts and their implementation in selected North Sea and Baltic Sea coastal states.
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WP3 – Realistic Combinations of Uses
Legal and technical examination of concrete multi-use combinations in the German EEZ.
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WP4 – Specific Case Studies
Development of an implementation concept based on representative offshore wind farm case studies.
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WP5 – Conclusions and Recommendations
Overarching conclusions and recommendations for the practical implementation of the multi-use concept.
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Im Mittelpunkt stehen insbesondere Kombinationen von Offshore-Windenergie mit Aquakultur, Fischerei, Naturwiederherstellung und Forschung.

Überblick der Arbeitspakete

AP1 – Stand der Forschung
Auswertung aktueller Forschungs- und Drittmittelprojekte zur Mehrfachnutzung.
→ Bericht lesen

AP2 – Internationale Erfahrungen
Analyse von Mehrfachnutzungskonzepten in Nord- und Ostsee-Anrainerstaaten.
→ Bericht lesen

AP3 – Realistische Nutzungskombinationen
Rechtliche und technische Prüfung konkreter Kombinationsmöglichkeiten in der deutschen AWZ.
→ Bericht lesen

AP4 – Konkrete Fallbeispiele
Entwicklung eines Umsetzungskonzepts anhand repräsentativer Offshore-Windparks.
→ Bericht lesen

AP5 – Handlungsempfehlungen
Schlussfolgerungen und Empfehlungen zur praktischen Implementierung (Englisch)
→ Bericht lesen

The post Mehrfachnutzung in der deutschen AWZ – Gesamtstudie 2024–2025 appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Read the Report

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“The MPA Community Network brings together initiatives and projects working across marine conservation, protection and restoration creating a shared space for exchanging ideas, developing joint outputs and carrying out activities that directly benefit MPA managers. Above all, it aims to be a one-stop hub where managers can find, in one place, all the tools and best practices developed for them across different initiatives.”

— Mariana Mata Lana, Project Manager, SUBMARINER Network

The guideline proposes a stepwise framework:

• Define a clear business model that articulates mission, value creation and stakeholder roles
• Translate this into a business plan with operational priorities and financial projections
• Assess the financial situation and identify funding gaps
• Select and test appropriate financial mechanisms

A central contribution of the publication is its comprehensive overview of financing options relevant to MPAs in Europe. These include public budget allocations, EU-funded projects, environmental levies, conservation trust funds, tourism-linked revenues, market-based instruments such as blue carbon credits, and risk financing mechanisms. By diversifying funding portfolios, MPAs can reduce dependency on single revenue streams and strengthen long-term resilience.

The guideline also works in synergy with the Blue4All MPA Finance Planner, a practical tool supporting financial gap analysis and scenario development.

By embedding financial strategy within conservation planning, the publication provides a practical roadmap for moving from nominal protection towards effective and sustainable marine management.

Read the Publication

The post Strengthening the financial foundations of Marine Protected Areas – New publication from BLUE4ALL and MPA Community Network appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

It analyses different upscaling and processing scenarios, comparing current labour-intensive practices with optimised, capital-intensive models, and evaluates their implications for revenue, gross value added (GVA) and employment at both regional and EU scale

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From projects to platforms

A key theme is the shift from individual projects towards longer-lasting platforms and implementation structures. This includes the further development of BlueBioMatch, dedicated community networks such as the MPA Community Network, and SUBMARINER’s growing role in supporting Mission Ocean implementation in the Baltic and North Sea region.

The report also reflects SUBMARINER’s increasing engagement with EIT Water, including the establishment of the Co-Location Centre Central & Baltic, strengthening links between marine, maritime, and freshwater communities and supporting alignment with emerging European innovation and funding frameworks.

Looking ahead

As EU Mission Ocean and Waters moves further into deployment, the report outlines priorities focused on scaling solutions, strengthening regional coordination, and supporting implementation through instruments such as BlueActionBANOS, in alignment with the European Ocean Pact and related EU policy frameworks.

The full report is available here: https://submariner-network.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/SUB-Progress-Report-2025.pdf

The post SUBMARINER Progress Report 2025 now available appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

A key theme is the shift from individual projects towards longer-lasting platforms and implementation structures. This includes the further development of BlueBioMatch, dedicated community networks such as the MPA Community Network, and SUBMARINER’s growing role in supporting Mission Ocean implementation in the Baltic and North Sea region.

The report also reflects SUBMARINER’s increasing engagement with EIT Water, including the establishment of the Co-Location Centre Central & Baltic, strengthening links between marine, maritime, and freshwater communities and supporting alignment with emerging European innovation and funding frameworks.

Read the Report

The post SUBMARINER Progress Report 2025 appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

Why this matters for MPAs and MSP

This global development directly connects to the work of the SUBMARINER Network, particularly across projects focused on marine protected areas and maritime spatial planning (MSP).

Across our work, several principles are consistently reinforced:

• Marine Protected Areas require governance frameworks, not just designation. Effective MPAs depend on clear objectives, scientific criteria, stakeholder involvement, and alignment with wider spatial planning processes.
• Maritime Spatial Planning is a key implementation tool for biodiversity policy. MSP enables the integration of conservation objectives with sustainable use of marine space, ensuring coherence between MPAs, economic activities, and ecosystem protection.
• Area-based management tools benefit from planning logic. While MSP as defined under EU law does not apply to the high seas, the High Seas Treaty reflects the same fundamentals: evidence-based decision-making, coordination across sectors, and spatial approaches to managing cumulative impacts.

Linking global commitments with regional implementation

The Treaty’s entry into force strengthens the case for closer alignment between global biodiversity commitments and regional and EU-level planning frameworks. For MSP practitioners and MPA developers, this means anticipating how high seas conservation measures interact with national waters, sea-basin strategies, and existing regional cooperation mechanisms.

SUBMARINER’s projects contribute to this alignment by translating policy ambitions into operational tools, methodologies, and governance approaches that support coherent planning across scales.

This includes work on MPA coherence, cross-border MSP, and the integration of biodiversity objectives into blue economy development.

As implementation of the High Seas Treaty begins, the focus now shifts from agreement to delivery. Ensuring that global conservation goals result in tangible outcomes will depend on strong links between international frameworks and practical planning instruments. This is where MSP and well-designed MPAs play a central role.

More information of SUBMARINER MPA projects: https://submariner-network.eu/our-solutions/marine-protected-areas/

The post The High Seas Treaty Enters into Force: Implications for Marine Protected Areas and Maritime Spatial Planning appeared first on Submariner Network for Blue Growth.

They target actors across the Baltic and North Sea region, including local and regional authorities, research and innovation organisations, NGOs, SMEs, and cross-sector consortia. The calls prioritise collaboration, implementation readiness, and alignment with EU environmental, climate, and sustainable blue economy objectives.

Two EU open calls are currently available, addressing different but complementary stages of mission delivery.

Community-Led Actions Open Call

The Community-Led Actions Open Call supports collaborative projects that implement tangible solutions on the ground.

Funded actions focus on challenges such as marine and freshwater pollution, ecosystem restoration, and sustainable blue economy practices. The call is intended for initiatives that are ready to move from concept to implementation and can demonstrate a clear contribution to Mission objectives.

Funding is available for multi-partner consortia established in Baltic and North Sea countries, with implementation periods of up to 24 months. The scale of support enables projects to test, adapt, and scale solutions while generating transferable lessons for other regions.

Transition Agendas Open Call

The Transition Agendas Open Call supports the development of strategic, action-oriented agendas that guide longer-term sustainability transitions.

These agendas help regions, sectors, or thematic communities align stakeholders, investments, and policies around shared objectives related to ecosystem restoration, decarbonisation, and the sustainable use of marine and freshwater resources.

Funding supports structured collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and the preparation of roadmaps that can inform future EU funding applications, policy processes, and regional investment strategies.

Structured Support Beyond Funding

Both EU open calls follow a staged application process, starting with a project idea phase and including consultation and guidance before full proposal submission. This approach improves proposal quality and alignment with Mission objectives, while lowering barriers for applicants unfamiliar with EU funding procedures.

BlueAction BANOS funding is embedded within a broader mission support framework. In addition to financial support, beneficiaries gain access to knowledge exchange, networking opportunities, and connections to other Mission-related initiatives across the Baltic and North Sea basin.

Why These EU Funding Opportunities Matter

EU Missions depend on coordinated action across governance levels and sectors. Well-designed funding open calls are essential for bridging the gap between EU policy ambition and implementation at regional and local level.

Through its leadership of BlueMissionBANOS and BlueAction BANOS, the SUBMARINER Network contributes to this process by ensuring that EU funding opportunities are mission-driven, regionally relevant, and focused on measurable impact.

For organisations seeking EU open calls related to marine and freshwater restoration, climate resilience, and sustainable blue economy development in the Baltic and North Sea region, these funding opportunities provide concrete entry points into Mission implementation.

More information: https://www.blueactionbanos.eu/

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