Jointly understanding and validating the system and challenges

Background/ Situation

Delta areas and coastal areas in particular become busier and busier. The challenges is these areas become bigger and bigger: combining economy (industry), recreation, nature and food production keeping in mind the increasing demand for fresh water, energy and food for the growing world population and safety issues as a result of climate change. The use of near (in) shore areas by humans has a limit: the so-called carrying capacity of (water) systems. There are several forms of carrying capacity: economic, production, ecological) on different spatial scales.

In the Living Lab Oosterschelde (Eastern Scheldt) several apparent conflicts are prominent. The Eastern Scheldt is a National Parc. On the other hand the area is used for bottom shellfish production for many decades. Innovations have resulted in new off bottom culture techniques for oysters and mussels. New initiatives in marine aquaculture, f.e. seaweed, are taken. Space for new forms of water use in near shore areas seems limited however. Resulting in a limitation of the innovations in food production, energy generation and others usage. One solution to overcome the deadlock in spatial competing claims is to look for new smart combination of functions. These combinations have to be worked out in technical, policy and management sense on different scales of time and space: multi-functional use, function rotation, combining land-based and near shore use, etc.

Aim

The system of study in this assignment comprises the region “Eastern Scheldt” , a former estuary fed by salt North Sea water every tide. The aims of the study are fourfold:

Defining the carrying capacity of the Eastern Scheldt, taken into account the future developments.
Quantifying the impact of different possible functions on the carrying capacity of the Eastern Scheldt now and in the future (projection)
Work out and analyze concepts for multi functional use in space and time
Analyze what transitions, also in policy and management are needed to put these concepts into practice.

Boundary conditions

Serving multiple goals: food, nature, energy, recreation, safety
Spatial Planning, Administration, Policy
Ecosystem services and carrying capacity
Sustainability: circular, safe, robust