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Spatial decision-support tools can be used for scenario analysis and guide decision-makers towards transparent and knowledge-based spatial planning. Their application for multi-objective zoning in marine socio-ecological systems is beneficial for supporting the on-going Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) process. We consider the sustainable development of aquaculture as one of the main maritime activities for sustainable Blue Growth in the Adriatic Ionian Region. The objective of this research is to conceptualize a strategic multi-objective zoning process for aquaculture expansion and biodiversity protection (seabed habitats, marine mammals, seabirds and turtles species distribution, nursery and spawning areas of commercially important fish species) in the Emilia Romagna Region (Italian Northern Adriatic Sea). This area is characterized by the highest productivity of mussels in Italy and is also intensively used by several maritime industries. The projected growth of the Blue Economy is likely to result in an increase of conflicts and impacts on sensitive environments. The decision support tools Marxan and Marxan with Zones are applied to develop alternative planning scenarios and compare solutions in terms of potential impacts on human activities. To do so, we i) build an aquaculture suitability distribution for important commercial species using a multi-criteria analysis that considers environmental, biological and socio-economic factors; ii) prioritize biodiversity using Marxan, while testing how different considerations of human impacts influences priorities (e.g. minimizing the area, number of maritime activities, distance from ports, aquaculture suitability); iii) simultaneously prioritize aquaculture and biodiversity using Marxan with Zones, while minimizing the impact of the number of maritime activities in the Emilia Romagna Region. We compare our scenarios using a novel nearest-neighbour statistical analysis for Marxan’s outputs to understand similarities and differences among scenarios. We conclude that an integrated multi-objective zoning approach, which simultaneously plans for biodiversity and aquaculture, will support more efficient, and therefore more effective strategies for Blue Growth objectives in the AIR.&nbsp

Spatial decision-support tools can guide decision-makers towards knowledge-based spatial planning. Their application for multiple-objective zoning is beneficial for supporting the on-going Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) process, in particular in areas of high density of uses like the Adriatic-Ionian region (AIR). In this work, we give contribution to the sustainable development of the aquaculture, as one of the main maritime activities for sustainable Blue Growth in the AIR. Aquaculture expansion should occur alongside the protection of biodiversity and the conservation of sites where aquaculture and its synergic uses can coexist. Planning for these objectives independently from one another has been shown to produce inefficiencies in costs, area, and conflicts across sectors. The objective of this research is to operationalize multi-objective zoning for aquaculture expansion and biodiversity protection (seabed habitats, marine mammals, seabirds and turtles species distribution, nursery and spawning areas of commercially important fish species). The area of analyses is the coastal area of the Emilia Romagna Region (Italian Northern Adriatic Sea). This area is the main producer of mussels in Italy and it is currently intensively crowded by several maritime uses, which are expected to grow over next years resulting in increase of conflicts and pressures on sensitive environments (Natura 2000 sites; Biological Protection zone). The decision support tool Marxan and its advanced version Marxan with Zones were applied to develop planning scenarios. Firstly, we prioritise biodiversity conservation, through Marxan, while minimizing conflicts with other anthropic uses. Secondly, we carry out an aquaculture suitability analysis using a multicriteria evaluation approach based on environmental, biological and socio-economic conditions. Next, we simultaneously prioritize both aquaculture and biodiversity, through Marxan with Zones, while minimizing impacts on seven other industries operating in the Emilia Romagna Region. We discuss an integrated zoning plan that meets targets for multiple objectives, and which adheres to several constraints regarding the location of aquaculture farms offshore in order to both allow the use of bigger technologies for mussel catch and minimize the impacts on coastal environments (pollution impact, visual impact). Our analysis can guide multiple stakeholders and decision-makers towards cost-efficient solutions that are scientifically based, thus contributing to the marine spatial planning process and sustainable growth in the Adriatic-Ionian region.

Maritime Spatial Planning (MSP) is a practical way to create and establish a more rational organisation of the use of marine space and the interactions between its uses, to balance demands for development with the need to protect marine ecosystems, and to achieve social and economic objectives in an open and planned way (Ehler and Douvere, 2009). The so-called “Blue Economy” in the Adriatic and Ionian Region (AIR) generates an annual turnover that exceeds €21 billion, with an increasing growth trend. An effective spatial planning is an essential condition in order to guarantee a long-lasting development ensuring a sustainable use of marine resources for future generations. This is particularly true in areas such as the Adriatic-Ionian Region, where several uses are competing for the same space and the same resources and where the transboundary dimension needs to be taken into account for the best regulation of those uses. MSP is also an opportunity to connect the marine and the maritime world, essential components of Blue Growth. While an extended presentation of ADRIPLAN results is contained in the ADRIPLAN Final Report “Developing a Maritime Spatial Plan for the Adriatic Ionian Region”, this booklet intends to summarise key findings of ADRIPLAN (chapters 3 and 4) and to be a short manual, or at least a vademecum (actually a commented checklist – chapter 5), for those who, at different levels and with different responsibilities, are or will be involved in the elaboration and implementation of spatial plans in the AIR. It is meant to be applied in general to the process of developing MSP plans and to single projects dealing with specific aspects of the MSP process. This Report takes direct inspiration from the TPEA Report “TPEA Good Practice Guide” (Jay and Gee, 2014), for which we thank the Editors and all the Authors.

La Pianificazione dello Spazio Marittimo (Maritime Spatial Planning - MSP) è uno strumento pratico per creare e stabilire un’organizzazione più razionale dello spazio marino e delle interazioni tra i suoi usi, al fine di equilibrare la domanda di sviluppo con il bisogno di proteggere gli ecosistemi marini, e di raggiungere obiettivi sociali ed economici in modo trasparente e pianificato (Ehler e Douvere, 2009). La cosiddetta “Economia Blu” genera attualmente nella Regione Adriatico Ionica un fatturato annuo che supera i 21 miliardi di Euro, con un trend in continua crescita. Un’efficace pianificazione spaziale è da considerarsi condizione essenziale per garantire uno sviluppo di lungo termine, in grado di assicurare un uso sostenibile delle risorse marine per le generazioni future. Questo è particolarmente vero per un’area come la Regione Adriatico-Ionica, caratterizzata da una forte competizione fra usi sia per lo stesso spazio che per le stesse risorse e dalla necessità di stabilire una forte cooperazione transfrontaliera al fine di regolare al meglio tali usi. La MSP è inoltre un’opportunità per collegare il mondo marino – riferito alle componenti ambientali del mondo acquatico - e quello marittimo – relativo alle attività antropiche, componenti essenziali della Crescita Blu. Una presentazione estesa dei risultati di ADRIPLAN è contenuta nel Rapporto Finale di ADRIPLAN “Developing a Maritime Spatial Plan for the Adriatic Ionian Region”. Questo booklet intende riportare sinteticamente i risultati prin- cipali di ADRIPLAN (capitoli 3 e 4) ed essere un breve manuale, o almeno un vademecum (una cheklist commentata – capitolo 5), per quelli che, a livelli differenti e con diverse responsabilità, sono o saranno coinvolti nell’elaborazione e implementazione dei piani spaziali nella Regione Adriatico-Ionica. Il manuale è stato pensato per essere applicato in generale al processo di sviluppo dei piani di MSP e a singoli progetti che hanno a che fare con aspetti specifici del processo di MSP. Questo Rapporto prende spunto dal Rapporto finale del progetto TPEA “TPEA Good Practice Guide” (Jay and Gee, 2014), per il quale ringraziamo tutti gli autori e i curatori., Barbanti A., Campostrini P., Musco F., Sarretta A., Gissi E. (eds.) (2015). Conclusioni e raccomandazioni del Progetto ADRIPLAN. Un manuale breve per la Pianificazione dello Spazio Marittimo nella Regione Adriatico-Ionica. CNR-ISMAR, Venezia, IT. Zenodo. http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1186493